Head of Chinese Football Association Sentenced to Life in Prison

The former head of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) has been sentenced to life in prison for taking millions of dollars in bribes, making him one of the most senior soccer officials punished in China’s sweeping crackdown on corruption in the sport.

Chen Xuyuan, 67, was found guilty of accepting more than 81 million yuan ($11.2 million) in bribes from 2010 to 2023, during which he took advantage of his positions, including as the CFA president, to do favors for others that compromised the integrity of the sport, according to a statement from a court in Huangshi, Central China’s Hubei province.