China’s top anti-graft official stresses in-depth probe of corruption in sports, especially in football
Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Disciplinary Inspection, speaks at a conference on national disciplinary inspection work and the 20th CPC Central Committee’s first round of inspections in Beijing March 27 2023. Photo: Xinhua
China’s top anti-graft official said Monday that the country will seek and promote solutions to corruption and deep-seated institutional problems in sports, especially football, and is committed to making China a strong sports nation.
Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Disciplinary Inspection, made the remarks during a conference on the work of the national disciplinary inspection in Beijing.
Li issued separate instructions regarding the probing of state-owned enterprises managed by central agencies and financial institutions and the General Administration of Sport of China.
Li said “random” inspections by the General Administration of Sports of China should focus on the performance of the Party’s leadership and responsibilities and the implementation of key decisions and plans to build China into a strong sports nation.
According to China’s top anti-graft organization, the “random” inspections are focused on an effective and streamlined way to find problems quickly.
Employing “small teams” of five to six people, each of whom will play an effective role in uncovering problems. You will work “fast” and focus on efficient and precise breakthroughs that target key issues directly.
The top anti-graft agency will conduct these types of inspections, targeting the General Administration of Sport of China, to identify and solve corruption in sport, especially football, and deep-seated institutional problems.
Media reports pointed out that corruption in football is very rarely called by its name, as experts noted that corruption in football is a high-level societal issue. The naming of corruption in football as part of the central inspection work also reflects that the way the inspection is becoming more flexible and it is responding to social concerns in a timely manner, experts noted.
China’s top disciplinary body uncovered several corruption cases involving young soccer officials and coaches, including Li Tie, former head coach of the Chinese men’s soccer team.
Wang Xiaoping, director of the Disciplinary Committee of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), and Huang Song, director of the CFA Competitions Department, were investigated by the Disciplinary Inspection and Supervision Body of the CPC in Central for alleged serious disciplinary and legal violations, the Chinese province of Hubei announced on March 24 known.
Three other CFA officials are also under investigation. According to media reports, they are Liu Yi, former general secretary of the CFA, Chen Yongliang, deputy general secretary and head of the national team’s management department, and CFA president Chen Xuyuan.
The inspection tasks for 2023 were defined at the conference. Li called for strengthening oversight and inspection with a focus on the country’s most fundamental interests, and promoting thorough implementation of the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and key decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee.