By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 1 hour ago, Updated now
The former president of the Chinese athletics federation has been tried for corruption, state media said on Tuesday, at a time when sports figures are being singled out for lack of integrity.
Yu Hongchen is accused of receiving more than 22.5 million yuan (2.9 million euros) in bribes between 2010 and 2023, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Mr. Yu, who has held various positions in the world of sports including at the football federation, pleaded guilty, the agency said. The verdict will be rendered later, Xinhua news added.
Chinese football also in a story of corruption
This trial comes after that of the former president of the Chinese football federation Chen Xuyuan, who also pleaded guilty to corruption on Monday. This official is accused of having received more than 81 million yuan (10.4 million euros) in bribes. In a resounding documentary broadcast in January, Chen Xuyuan declared that he had been corrupted by players in the football world wishing to gain his good graces. Since his arrival at the top of power a decade ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping has shown his desire to fight corruption, sometimes deeply rooted in the country’s administration and state-owned companies.
Since then, some 4.8 million party officials have been investigated, according to the latest official figures dating from June 2022. In China, people placed under investigation generally end up being convicted. In recent weeks, former heads of public banks, the banking regulatory authority and even public companies in the oil and tobacco sector have also been charged with corruption. Supporters of the campaign say it promotes clean governance. Critics say it allows Mr. Xi to get rid of political opponents.
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