Corruption needs red card if China is to be a sporting powerhouse
- Biggest graft scandal in a decade threatens to drag Chinese men’s football to an even lower level with investigations also spreading to other sports
The appointment of a new head coach for China’s men’s football team and the resumption of the Chinese Super League should make this an exciting time for the country’s long-suffering fans. But the attempt by the sport to recover from the impact of the pandemic has been overshadowed by the biggest corruption scandal in a decade.
The investigation is growing, with implications for the sports sector generally.
One of the officials investigated is Du Zhaocai, deputy head of the nation’s sports administrator and vice-chairman of the Chinese Football Association (CFA). He is among nine senior football figures probed.
A working group of leading officials from various sporting backgrounds has now been tasked with leading the association. The investigation of Du marks a dramatic change in his fortunes.
He was elected a member of the Fifa Council in 2019, giving China a representative on the international body. China then won the right to host the Asian Cup for the first time since 2004, but it gave up that right last year, because of the pandemic.
Du later lost his seat on the council. Now, he is being investigated along with former president of the CFA, Chen Xuyuan, and ex-men’s team coach Li Tie.
The crackdown leaves China’s hopes of becoming a global football powerhouse in tatters. The men’s team is ranked a dismal 80th in the world.
Top flight clubs have collapsed amid financial problems. Seven were suspended last week for failing to pay wage arrears.
Ambitious plans to build football pitches and develop youth have stalled. Problems such as match fixing remain.
No wonder an anti-corruption official said there was a wide gap between the reality and the expectations of both President Xi Jinping and the people.
Details of the corruption allegations should be revealed. It is worrying that among those under investigation are high-profile figures who had been trusted to reform and develop the sport.
The top anti-corruption body has also announced an inspection of the General Administration of Sport, which will last until the end of next month. Deep-seated structural problems with the sports sector have been identified.
The investigation is spreading beyond football. The former chairman of the rowing and canoeing associations is also being probed.
Corruption scandal deals new blow to Xi’s Chinese football dream
While the investigations continue, the new men’s football team coach, Aleksandar Jankovic, has set his sights on qualifying for the World Cup finals in 2026. Much work needs to be done if he is to succeed where so many have failed.
Men’s football in China has hit a new low. The reset provides an opportunity to get it right.
Corruption in sport generally must be stamped out and governance improved if China is to achieve its aim of becoming a global sporting powerhouse.
