Two top football officials in China are being investigated for “serious violations of the law,” the country’s sports authority announced on Friday, deepening a government crackdown on the sport. The individuals under investigation are Huang Song, head of the competition department at the Chinese Football Association (CFA), and Wang Xiaoping, chief of its disciplinary committee, according to statements from the General Administration of Sport.
They join a growing list of high‑profile football officials who have faced scrutiny since November, including CFA head Chen Xuyuan and former national coach and Premier League player Li Tie. In each case, authorities have provided no further details about the alleged offenses, but the phrasing commonly signals corruption in Chinese government communications.
President Xi Jinping, a self‑proclaimed football fan who hopes China will one day host and even win the World Cup, has seen his anti‑graft campaign extend into the national game. The drive comes as the industry already grapples with financial difficulties and the lingering effects of the zero‑COVID policy.
The crackdown has also implicated “multiple” professional players in the two top divisions of the Chinese league, according to a report by financial news outlet Caixin, which cited unnamed sources. One of the players named is Jin Jingdao, a Chinese international currently with Shandong Taishan FC in the Chinese Super League.
Comments are closed for this story.