Two additional football officials from the Chinese Football Association (CFA) have come under investigation for severe disciplinary violations, bringing the total number of CFA officials being investigated to 13 since November 2022. The investigation is part of China’s intensified efforts to tackle corruption within the football industry.
The discipline inspection and supervision body in Hubei announced the latest probe on Saturday, which involves Qi Jun, the head of the CFA’s strategic planning department, and Tan Hai, the director of the association’s technical department. Both officials were taken away by CFA’s disciplinary inspection and supervision officials during an important meeting on Friday.
Qi Jun, previously the head of the competition department of the CFA, assumed the role of head of the strategic planning department in August 2021. He also served as the team leader for China’s National Football Team during the Qatar World Cup qualification campaign. Qi is well-known on the social media platform Sina Weibo, where he enjoys a following of over 200,000 users.
On the other hand, Tan Hai made his mark as the youngest national-level referee at the age of 25 and earned accreditation as an international-level referee under the CFA in 2004. He received recognition as referee of the year in 2011, 2014, and 2015 by the Chinese Football Association Super League.
The investigations into Qi and Tan join the previous probe initiated in November 2022, which targeted the former head coach of the Chinese men’s football team, Li Tie. As China’s football industry confronts a crackdown on corruption, sports authorities have held multiple meetings to address the issues that have surfaced within the sector.
During a meeting on education work in the national football industry in May, Gao Zhidan, the Director of the General Administration of Sports, emphasized the importance of learning from past mistakes, fulfilling responsibilities to prevent corruption, and ensuring officials are not tempted to engage in corrupt practices.
The ongoing investigations into CFA officials highlight China’s dedication to creating a more transparent and accountable football industry. By addressing corruption at various levels, Chinese football can aim for a more reputable and trusted standing in the global sporting arena.
