What's happened
China's football is undergoing a significant crisis as former national team coach Li Tie was sentenced to 20 years in prison for bribery. This follows a broader anti-corruption crackdown that has implicated numerous officials and players, revealing deep-rooted issues within the sport. The government aims to revitalize football amid these challenges.
Go deeper
Impact of Corruption on Football
- Widespread Distrust: The corruption scandal has eroded public trust in football, making parents hesitant to involve their children in the sport.
- Need for Reform: The government’s crackdown highlights the urgent need for systemic reforms to restore integrity in football.
Government's Role
- Xi Jinping's Vision: President Xi has long envisioned a strong footballing nation, but corruption undermines these ambitions.
- Policy Changes: Recent meetings indicate a renewed focus on integrating sports with education and improving youth development.
Future Prospects
- Challenges Ahead: Despite efforts to clean up the sport, financial woes and a low FIFA ranking (90th) pose significant challenges.
- Potential for Growth: If reforms are successful, there is potential for revitalization and improved international standing in football.
What the papers say
According to the South China Morning Post, Li Tie's sentencing is part of a broader anti-corruption campaign that has seen numerous officials imprisoned, including former CFA president Chen Xuyuan, who received a life sentence. The report emphasizes that corruption has been pervasive in Chinese football, affecting even junior levels. Rowan Simons, author of *Bamboo Goalposts*, noted that the scandal has deterred parents from encouraging their children to play football, highlighting the need for a cultural shift in how the sport is perceived. Meanwhile, Professor Richard Giulianotti from Emlyon Business School pointed out that while China has excelled in other sports, football's global significance remains unmatched, making its success crucial for national prestige. The Independent also reported on Xi Jinping's long-term ambitions for Chinese football, which include hosting and winning a World Cup, but these goals are jeopardized by ongoing corruption issues.
How we got here
The corruption scandal in Chinese football has escalated since 2022, leading to the imprisonment of several high-ranking officials, including Li Tie and former CFA president Chen Xuyuan. This has prompted the government to reassess its approach to football, aiming for reform and improvement in the sport's governance.
More on these topics
-
The Chinese Football Association is the governing body of association football, beach soccer and futsal in Mainland China. Originally formed in Beijing in 1924, the association would affiliate itself with FIFA in 1931 before relocating to Taiwan following
-
Chen Xuyuan (Chinese: 陈戌源; born 1956) is a Chinese politician. He served as the president of Chinese Football Association from August 2019 to October 2023. He was president of Shanghai International Port Group before being elected to serve as CFA pr
-
Everton Football Club is an English professional football club based in Liverpool that competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.
-
China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.
-
Xi Jinping is a Chinese politician serving as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China, president of the People's Republic of China, and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
-
FIFA is a non-profit organization which describes itself as an international governing body of association football, fútsal, beach soccer, and efootball. It is the highest governing body of football.
-
Li Tie is a former Chinese international footballer who is the current head coach of China.
As a player he represented Liaoning FC in the Chinese Jia-A League, Everton in the Premier League, Sheffield United in the Football League Championship and Chengdu
-
Hubei is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, and is part of the Central China region. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Dongting Lake.
-
The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, the sport's global governin