In a recent development, Song Kai has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), as reported by China’s state news agency, Xinhua. This appointment comes in the wake of a surge in anti-corruption investigations affecting the soccer body.
Song Kai currently serves as the director of Liaoning province’s Sports Bureau, according to reports from the state media outlet, Global Times. Alongside Song Kai, several other notable figures were appointed as CFA vice presidents, including Sun Wen, Yuan Yongqing, Yang Xu, and Xu Jiren, as stated in the Xinhua report.
The Chinese Football Association has yet to issue an immediate response to these appointments and ongoing investigations.
This move follows last week’s announcement by China’s top prosecutor ordering the arrest of former CFA vice chairman Du Zhaocai, who is suspected of accepting bribes. Furthermore, in September, authorities revealed charges against the former head of the CFA, Chen Xuyuan, for allegedly using his position and authority to “seek benefits for others” and “illegally accept other people’s property and possessions.”
This recent spate of anti-corruption investigations has seen over a dozen officials within the football sector placed under scrutiny since November of the previous year, according to state media reports.
