Former China football head Chen to go on trial Monday on corruption charges
Chen, the former president of the China Football Association (CFA), will face trial this Monday at the Intermediate People’s Court of Huangshi City in central China’s Hubei Province. Chen, who once promised to tackle corruption in Chinese football, has been under investigation since February of last year for serious violations of discipline and the law.
In September, Chen was indicted for corruption after confessing in a televised documentary that he had accepted large sums of money from individuals seeking favors. The documentary also revealed that former Chinese national football team coach Li Tie admitted to paying Chen two million yuan ($278,600) in bribes to secure the top coaching position.
I would like to deeply apologize to all Chinese fans, Chen said. Fans can accept the fact that the state of Chinese football is bad, but they cannot forgive corruption.
Chen’s trial is the latest in a series of moves to hold senior leaders and executives of the CFA accountable. Over the past few years, around ten individuals associated with the association have been implicated in corruption scandals.
The trial of Chen, a prominent figure in Chinese football, has attracted significant attention and is seen as a crucial step towards addressing the widespread issue of corruption in the sport. The outcome of the trial is eagerly awaited by football fans and authorities alike, as they hope it will mark a turning point in the fight against corruption.
The state-run Xinhua news agency, citing the court, reported that Chen will be tried on corruption charges on Monday. The trial will likely be closely monitored by the public and the media, as the case holds implications not only for the future of Chinese football but also for the broader efforts to combat corruption within the country.
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the need for transparency and accountability in Chinese sports administration. The exposure of corruption scandals within the CFA has led to calls for stricter regulations and greater oversight in order to restore faith in the sport.
As the trial of Chen unfolds, football enthusiasts and the general public will be keen to see whether justice will be served and whether China’s football system can begin to rebuild its reputation.
