Beijing, Feb 18 (IANS) Thirty-nine people were Saturday given sentences ranging up to 12 years behind bars as part of China’s crackdown on soccer corruption.
Yang Yimin, former deputy chief of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), was sentenced to 10-and-a-half-years in prison for taking bribes totalling 1.254 million yuan ($199,364).
His personal property worth 200,000 yuan was also confiscated.
Zhang Jianqiang, former head of Chinese referees, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for taking bribes totalling 2.73 million yuan and had personal property worth 250,000 yuan confiscated, the Shanghai Daily reported.
Thirty-seven others, including former president of Shaanxi Guoli Club, former manager of Tibetan Luhua Club, and former president of Qingdao Hailifeng Club were sentenced to various prison sentences.