Football: Found guilty of corruption, former number two of the football federation sentenced to 11 years in prison in China

Former number two of the football federation sentenced to 11 years in prison for corruption in China. Midi Libre – YVES ESTIVALS

A Chinese court sentenced the former number two of the country's football federation to 11 years in prison on Monday for accepting bribes, in the context of a vast campaign by the state to combat corruption among civil servants.

Li Yuyi, a former vice-president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), was tried by a court in Jingzhou, Hubei province, where he was also fined nearly €127,000, while other assets he obtained through corruption will be confiscated and handed over to the state, the court said.

In March, Mr Li pleaded guilty to using his position at the CFA to accumulate cash and gifts worth more than €1.5 million between 2004 and 2008. and 2021.

China's World Cup Dream

A sweeping crackdown on official corruption under President Xi Jinping has hit the sports sector, particularly football, hard.

The Chinese leader is an avowed football fan, and has previously said he dreams of his country hosting and winning the World Cup. In March, former CFA president Chen Xuyuan was sentenced to life imprisonment for accepting bribes worth almost €10 million.

The same month, former Chinese national team manager and ex-Everton midfielder Li Tie pleaded guilty to accepting more than €10 million in bribes. €9.7 million in bribes and helping to fix matches.

In May, state broadcaster CCTV reported that Gou Zhongwen, former head of China's General Administration of Sport, was under investigation for corruption. In total, about a dozen senior CFA officials have been investigated in recent months.