The former chairman of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) has been sentenced to life in prison for bribery.

Chen Xuyuan was jailed by a court in Hubei province for accepting bribes worth more than 81 million yuan.

The court heard that between 2010 and 2023, Chen took advantage of his positions at the CFA and other bodies, offering help to others over project contracting, investment operations and event arrangements in exchange for money and valuables.

"Chen has severely harmed the order of fair competition in the football sector and brought tremendous damage to the country's football cause," according to the court ruling. (Xinhua/AFP)