Li Yuyi, a former vice-president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), was sentenced by a court in Jingzhou, Hubei province.

He was also fined US$140,000, while assets he obtained through corruption would be confiscated and turned over to the state, the court said.

In March, Li pleaded guilty to using his positions in the CFA to accumulate money and gifts worth over US$1.7 million between 2004 and 2021.

Li served as vice-president of the CFA from 2015 to 2019. Before that, he was head of Shanghai’s sports administration.

Under President Xi Jinping, authorities have cracked down hard on graft in China’s sports industry, especially in football.

Xi is a self-confessed football fanatic who has said he dreams of his country hosting and winning the World Cup.

But that ambition appears further away than ever after repeated corruption scandals and years of disappointing results on the pitch.

In March, former CFA head Chen Xuyuan was sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes worth more than US$11 million.

The same month, the former head coach of China’s national team and ex-Everton midfielder Li Tie pleaded guilty to accepting over US$10.7 million in bribes and helping to fix matches.

And in May, state broadcaster CCTV reported that Gou Zhongwen, former director of the General Administration of Sport of China, was under investigation for corruption.

Around 10 high level CFA officials have come under investigation in recent months.