I thought the arrest of former national soccer coach Li Tie was the big fish in China's soccer anti-corruption effort. Three months later, Li Tie is just a minor player in this anti-triad and anti-corruption campaign. After the FA chairman Chen Xuyuan and many others were taken away, one of the heroes of Chinese soccer was also arrested today. He is Yu Hongchen, former vice chairman of the FA and current chairman of the Chinese Athletic Association.
On the morning of March 29, the Hubei Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision released two consecutive updates: Dong Zheng, the former general manager of the Chinese Super League, has been examined and investigated, and Yu Hongchen, the chairman of the Athletics Association, has been examined and investigated. It is worth noting that although Yu is now the chairman of the Athletics Association, he has been an official of the Football Association of the General Administration of Sport of China since 2010. He has served as deputy director of the China Football Management Center, chairman of the Chinese Super League, vice chairman of the Chinese Football Association, full-time executive committee of the Football Association, and leader of the Chinese women's soccer team for the 2016 Olympics.In 2017, he left the management of Chinese soccer to be promoted to director of the Athletics Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China.In January 2023, he was further promoted. In addition to his role as head of the Athletics Management Center, he also serves as president of the Athletics Association.
Why has a now-imprisoned censor risen all the way up the ranks with his Chinese soccer resume? Speaking of Hongchen, he is still a hero of Chinese soccer and his main achievements are twofold. On the one hand, he had led the anti-gambling and counterfeiting storm in Chinese soccer eight years ago, personally sending soccer assholes such as Xie Yalong Nan Yong to jail; on the other hand, he personally created the legendary era of Chinese soccer clubs, taking the lead on behalf of the officials to recognize the policy that a team can have seven foreign aiders at the same time. At that time, Evergrande Football Club had just introduced Barrios, Kongka, Muric, Cleo, Baolong, Jin Yingquan and Zhao Yuanxi, claiming that Evergrande Football Club had already begun to sweep the peak.
However, two of his achievements for Chinese soccer seem to have become a joke after Hongchen was taken away for investigation. Eight years ago, after the arrest of Nan Yong, vice chairman of the Football Association, Yu Hongchen took over his position. At an internal meeting, it was rightly said, "This is the most profound warning and education around us. The mistakes of these top industry leaders are really sad. I think this issue is related to both personal cultivation and learning, as well as the corresponding system of supervision. I hope everyone in the soccer industry can take this opportunity to reflect deeply and realize their own shortcomings. Nowadays, Chinese soccer has the best opportunity for multi-pronged development. Further intervention by the relevant departments can strengthen the prevention of soccer fake gambling and blackmail, enhance detection, and have a higher deterrent effect on disciplinary criminals." Now eight years later, he's been taken away for the same problem with Nan Yong, and what he said before has turned into a joke.
In addition to the Evergrande club's gratitude to him, all the soccer clubs of the same period had opinions about another brilliant achievement of Evergrande soccer. After the door to seven foreign aiders was opened, then Guoan boss Luo Ning said angrily: "What is the basis for the increase to seven foreign aiders now? Why not eight or twenty? Any unit more than a few times to run the FA can make recommendations?" At the same time, he questioned Hongchen's behavior. "As the vice chairman of the FA, Yu Hongchen did not go to work; in the AFC Championship in Hong Kong, Luneng and Guizhou, Yu Hongchen did not personally go to the scene to cheer; only Evergrande's AFC Championship matches did not report, Hongchen did not go to report."
Now it seems that the time has come!
