AFP | 2023-08-31

BEIJING -- The head of China's top professional football league is under investigation for suspected corruption, the country's sports authority said Wednesday (August 30), as a campaign against graft rages through the sector.

Liu Jun, the chair of the company that runs the Chinese Super League, is being probed for "suspected serious legal and disciplinary violations", the General Administration of Sport said.

The statement used a well-worn byword for alleged corrupt practices but did not give details of the suspected offenses.

Growing list of corruption suspects

Liu joins a lengthening list of Chinese sports officials investigated in recent months amid an industry-wide anti-graft drive.

They include notable football personalities like former national coach Li Tie who has been criminally charged with bribery and other violations.

Last Saturday, the sports administration said it was examining alleged corruption by last year's Winter Olympic delegation chief Ni Huizhong.

Crackdown with ulterior motives?

Chinese President Xi Jinping has led a clampdown on corruption since coming to power a decade ago.

Proponents of Xi's anti-corruption campaign argue that it has helped to ensure honest governance and reduce corruption in China. Critics, however, argue that the campaign has been used by Xi to purge his political rivals and consolidate his power.

Meanwhile, the Argentine men's team recently gave Chinese football fans a glimpse of its World Cup-winning form. In June, the champion squad defeated Australia 2-0 in a friendly match in Beijing.

The match occurred even after Australian senator Claire Chandler warned that China could use it "for propaganda purposes."