Li Yuyi Sentenced in China's Sports Corruption Crackdown

Li Yuyi, former vice president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), has been sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined $140,000 for accepting bribes and gifts worth over $1.7 million from 2004 to 2021. This sentencing is part of a wider crackdown on corruption in China's sports sector under President Xi Jinping's administration. The football industry in China has been plagued by corruption scandals, with multiple high-ranking officials, including former CFA head Chen Xuyuan and former national team coach Li Tie, facing severe penalties for similar offenses. The crackdown aims to address the persistent underperformance of China's national football team, which many fans attribute to widespread corruption. The series of investigations and prosecutions underline Xi Jinping's commitment to eradicating graft in sports as part of his broader anti-corruption campaign.