Ex-Chinese soccer chiefs jailed in bribes scandal
By Ni Yinbin |
June 14, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Two former Chinese soccer chiefs were jailed yesterday for taking bribes, the latest moves in a sweeping crackdown on corruption in the sport.
Nan Yong, former director of the Chinese Football Administrative Center and the Chinese Football Association, was sentenced to 10 1/2 years for taking bribes of more than 1.48 million yuan (US$232,300) between 1999 and 2009.
A court in the northeast city of Tieling also fined Nan, whose 50th birthday is this weekend, 200,000 yuan and ordered his illegal gains confiscated.
Meanwhile, at a court in the northeast city of Dandong, Nan's predecessor Xie Yalong was also jailed for 10 1/2 years for accepting bribes totaling 1.36 million yuan.
Xie, who said at a court appearance in April that he had been tortured into making a confession - a claim denied by police in Liaoning Province - was also fined 200,000 yuan and had all the bribes confiscated.
Both Nan and Xie told the courts they needed to consult their lawyers before deciding whether to appeal.
The pair were among 11 people sentenced yesterday as part of a campaign to root out entrenched graft in the Chinese game that has ensnared dozens of CFA and club officials, referees and players accused of match-fixing, gambling and other crimes.
Bribery and embezzlement
Former Chinese national soccer team leader Yu Shaohui was also jailed for 10 1/2 years and fined 200,000 yuan for taking bribes.
Li Dongsheng, the CFA's former top technical chief, was sentenced to nine years in prison for bribery and embezzlement. Li was also fined 100,000 yuan and his illegal gains of 850,000 yuan were confiscated.
Gao Jian, former general secretary of the Chongqing Football Association, and Chen Hong, former general manager of the Chongqing Lifan club, were jailed for two years with a two-year reprieve for bribery.
In February, China's four former top referees, including a former World Cup match official, were jailed for up to seven years for their part in the scandal.
Lu Jun, a referee at the 2002 World Cup, was jailed for five-and-a-half years for accepting bribes and fined 100,000 yuan.
Three other referees - Huang Junjie, Zhou Weixin and Wan Daxue - were sentenced to seven, three-and-a-half and six years respectively, and fined for taking and offering bribes.
Chinese soccer has been bogged down by bribery and match-fixing scandals for years which, along with poor performances on the pitch led to fans deserting the game in droves.
China has made it to only one World Cup, in 2002, under Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic - Nan Yong's pick to lead the team - and is currently ranked 73rd in the world.
The corruption crackdown - which began in 2009 - has seen 56 high-level football officials, players and referees jailed.
Nan Yong, former director of the Chinese Football Administrative Center and the Chinese Football Association, was sentenced to 10 1/2 years for taking bribes of more than 1.48 million yuan (US$232,300) between 1999 and 2009.
A court in the northeast city of Tieling also fined Nan, whose 50th birthday is this weekend, 200,000 yuan and ordered his illegal gains confiscated.
Meanwhile, at a court in the northeast city of Dandong, Nan's predecessor Xie Yalong was also jailed for 10 1/2 years for accepting bribes totaling 1.36 million yuan.
Xie, who said at a court appearance in April that he had been tortured into making a confession - a claim denied by police in Liaoning Province - was also fined 200,000 yuan and had all the bribes confiscated.
Both Nan and Xie told the courts they needed to consult their lawyers before deciding whether to appeal.
The pair were among 11 people sentenced yesterday as part of a campaign to root out entrenched graft in the Chinese game that has ensnared dozens of CFA and club officials, referees and players accused of match-fixing, gambling and other crimes.
Bribery and embezzlement
Former Chinese national soccer team leader Yu Shaohui was also jailed for 10 1/2 years and fined 200,000 yuan for taking bribes.
Li Dongsheng, the CFA's former top technical chief, was sentenced to nine years in prison for bribery and embezzlement. Li was also fined 100,000 yuan and his illegal gains of 850,000 yuan were confiscated.
Gao Jian, former general secretary of the Chongqing Football Association, and Chen Hong, former general manager of the Chongqing Lifan club, were jailed for two years with a two-year reprieve for bribery.
In February, China's four former top referees, including a former World Cup match official, were jailed for up to seven years for their part in the scandal.
Lu Jun, a referee at the 2002 World Cup, was jailed for five-and-a-half years for accepting bribes and fined 100,000 yuan.
Three other referees - Huang Junjie, Zhou Weixin and Wan Daxue - were sentenced to seven, three-and-a-half and six years respectively, and fined for taking and offering bribes.
Chinese soccer has been bogged down by bribery and match-fixing scandals for years which, along with poor performances on the pitch led to fans deserting the game in droves.
China has made it to only one World Cup, in 2002, under Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic - Nan Yong's pick to lead the team - and is currently ranked 73rd in the world.
The corruption crackdown - which began in 2009 - has seen 56 high-level football officials, players and referees jailed.
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