The long-awaited trials for corruption in Chinese soccer started on Monday morning in the northeastern Chinese city of Tieling with ex-official Zhang Jianqiang first appearing on court.
Zhang, ex-director of the Chinese Football Association (CFA)'s referee committee, was arrested in March 2011 for match-fixing and bribery and is facing two charges of bribe-taking and bribery by non-public servants.
Zhang was the first defendant to stand trial and more people involved in corruption and match-fixing scandals are facing court this week.
According to a notice posted by the Intermediate People's Court of Tieling, a city in Northeast China's Liaoning province, former general manager of Shaanxi club, Wang Po, will appear on court Tuesday on charges of bribe-taking and fraud, followed by Yang Yimin, ex-deputy director of the Chinese Football Administrative Center, who will face charges of bribe-taking on Wednesday morning.
More than 20 people, most of whom are former CFA and club officials, will face trial in the Intermediate People's Court of Tieling this week.
