[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Kim Hyun-jung] The Chinese football world is embroiled in a corruption scandal, with news of the downfall of related figures continuing. Although the allegations are similar to the match-fixing incident in 2009, there is speculation that it is also related to the failure to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup finals.
According to local media such as the state-run Xinhua News Agency and the Global Times (GT), on the 15th, Chen Xuyuan, president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), is under disciplinary and legal investigation by the Communist Party Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission’s disciplinary inspection team stationed at the General Administration of Sport, as well as the Hubei Provincial Supervisory Commission. On the same day, real estate development group CFLF announced that Meng Jing, co-chairman and former board member of the Hebei Football Association, was detained.
The CFA issued a statement supporting the authorities’ investigation of President Chen Xuyuan. In the statement, the CFA emphasized, "The investigation of President Chen fully reflects the determination and zero tolerance toward eradicating corruption," and added, "We will create a proper football ecosystem and further promote the reform and development of Chinese football."
Earlier, in November last year, investigations into high-ranking officials began with the disciplinary inspection of former men’s national team coach Li Tie by the disciplinary inspection commission. Li was appointed head coach of the national team in January 2020 but resigned in December the following year after poor performance in the Qatar World Cup qualifiers. Last month, news also emerged of disciplinary investigations into Liu Yi, former secretary-general of the Chinese Football Association, and Chen Yongliang, executive deputy secretary-general of the CFA. The investigations are related to disciplinary and legal violations.
The specific charges against them have not yet been disclosed, but some speculate that they may be involved in match-fixing. Previously, in 2009, the Chinese football world was shaken by a match-fixing scandal. Former CFA vice president Nan Yong and others were arrested and sentenced to over ten years in prison, shocking the public. Investigations continued until 2013, during which many players were arrested and some clubs were relegated.
There is also speculation that this is related to China’s failure to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup finals, where Asian countries performed well. The Chinese national team was eliminated in the final round of the Asian qualifiers, failing to qualify for the World Cup finals for the fifth consecutive time since the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.
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