Liu Jun, head of the company that oversees the Chinese Super League, is the subject of an investigation on “significant legal and disciplinary violations”, explained in a press release the General Administration of Sport.
The text does not detail the allegations, but the wording of the press release is generally used in corruption cases. Since November, a series of Chinese soccer officials, including ex-coach Li Tie and federation president Chen Xuyuan, have been investigated or charged for “violations of the law” while that Beijing is trying to stem embezzlement in the sporting world.
The General Administration of Sport said on Saturday that a corruption investigation had been opened against the head of the Olympic delegation to the 2022 Winter Games, Ni Huizhong. A football fan, Chinese President Xi Jinping hopes to see his country host and even win a World Cup one day.
But his anti-corruption campaign has had a big impact on Chinese football, a sector already struggling financially and still suffering the consequences of Beijing’s now abandoned zero covid policy. Some observers also believe that Mr. Xi would use this campaign to sideline political rivals.
