Jail, fine for former soccer official in bribery case

Ma Chengquan, a former director of the executive bureau of the professional league council of the Chinese Football Association and former chairman of the Chinese Super League Co, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison for bribery in a first instance trial, along with a fine of 800,000 yuan ($112,000).

The People's Court of Chongyang county, Hubei province, publicly announced the sentence on Wednesday.

Ma assumed the role of head of a football professional operation company in September 2010 and was appointed chairman of the Chinese Super League Co in August 2014.

He was placed under investigation in April 2023 and his case was transferred to the procuratorial authorities for prosecution in September. The court heard his case in March this year.