Editorial | Clean start needed for China football to score
The game has been rife with corruption, but latest crackdown offers hope to realise not only the goals of nation’s leaders but also long-suffering fans
The jailing of former star footballer and ex-men’s national team coach, Li Tie, for 20 years is a landmark in mainland China’s sweeping crackdown on corruption in the sport.
Li, who played in the World Cup finals in 2002 and then for English Premier League team Everton, was convicted of taking more than 110 million yuan (HK$117 million) in bribes between 2015 and 2021.
He is the best known figure among the many officials, coaches and players who have been punished as part of an investigation into bribery and match-fixing. Chen Xuyuan, former chairman of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), was jailed for life in March.
Corruption has plagued football on the mainland for decades. But this latest probe has revealed the extent to which it has persisted. Li told a CCTV documentary in January that corruption in Chinese football was “everywhere, in each and every aspect”. It has even pervaded junior football. There is a need for root and branch reform.
The recent crackdown provides an opportunity for a fresh start. This month, football was a surprise item on the agenda of a State Council meeting. Officials were urged to revitalise and develop the industry.
But there have been “fresh starts” before. A 2015 plan for redeveloping the sport was a response to an earlier corruption controversy. This time, efforts to clean up the game must succeed.
