Advertisement
Advertisement
Corruption in China
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
Du Zhaocai is the latest senior sports official to face a corruption probe. Photo: Getty Images

Leading Chinese sports official faces corruption probe as football inquiry widens

  • Du Zhaocai is the latest leading figure in Chinese sport to be caught up in an inquiry that has also snared the former men’s national football team coach Li Tie
  • The country’s top anti-corruption agency said this week it would carry out further investigations into sports administration

One of China’s leading sports officials is being investigated on suspicion of corruption, the Communist Party’s top graft-busting body announced on Saturday.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced that Du Zhaocai, deputy head of the General Administration of Sport of China, was under investigation for suspected violations of discipline and law – the usual euphemism for corruption.

The announcement gave no further details about the case.

The sports administrator later issued a statement saying it fully supported the party’s decision to carry out a “serious investigation ... of the Du Zhaocai case” and supported the party’s efforts to “seriously investigate corruption issues” in the game.
A number of senior officials involved in Chinese football have already been caught up in a wide-ranging investigation into the game, including Li Tie, the former men’s national team coach and former English Premier League player.

Du, 63, had been working as the deputy head of the government body responsible for administering Chinese sport since 2019. He has over 30 years’ experience working as a sports and football administrator.

He was previously vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation, vice-president of the Chinese Olympic Committee and a council member of the International Association of Athletics Federations.

He had served as vice-president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and was elected to the Fifa Council in 2019.

01:27

Chinese football club invests US$1.7 billion to build one of the world’s biggest soccer stadiums

Chinese football club invests US$1.7 billion to build one of the world’s biggest soccer stadiums

His failure to retain his seat on the Fifa Council during a vote at the Asian Football Confederation’s congress in Bahrain in February was another blow to Chinese football’s status after a series of problems on and off the pitch.

The underperformance of the men’s national team in recent years and the loss of many leading clubs due to financial problems, coupled with significant investment in the sport, has led to widespread dissatisfaction among football fans and the general public, and fuelled concerns about corruption in the football industry.

On Monday, China’s top anti-corruption agency launched a new round of inspections, indicating another round of regulatory reform. It said it will include a special inspection of the General Administration of Sport as part of the drive.

China’s football woes continue, Guangzhou City quit CSL weeks before new season

Since the end of last year, dozens of sports related officials have been brought down. Eight former and current officials of the CFA are under investigation.

Those include the head of the CFA, Chen Xuyuan, who was placed under investigation in February, while Li, who stepped down as national team boss in 2021, was placed under investigation last December.

Other officials under investigation include the head of the CFA’s disciplinary committee, Wang Xiaoping, and the director of its competition department, Huang Song.

Sports administration has taken on a growing significance as part of China’s soft power strategies.

01:46

Ancient Chinese form of football showcased on sidelines of Qatar World Cup 2022

Ancient Chinese form of football showcased on sidelines of Qatar World Cup 2022

Two months after China hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the country to improve its international competitiveness in sport and accelerate the pace of building a sporting powerhouse.

The General Administration of Sport of China oversees and regulates sports activities in China, with responsibilities that extend beyond training athletes.

It also played a key role in planning major international events, including the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, last year’s Winter Games, and promoting sports diplomacy as a means to enhance China’s global image and improve relations with other countries.

Post