Former Olympic hurdler Li Tong , now a sports marketing director in China for US shoe company Nike, was detained by police as the anti-graft investigation of the mainland's soccer authority expanded to the commercial sector, according to the nation's media.
The probe of the Chinese Football Association, which involves match-fixing, bribe-taking and gambling, also now includes the soccer authority in Chongqing .
Li was questioned about Nike's huge sponsorship deal with the professional Super League and his relationship with Nan Yong, former CFA vice-chairman, the Eastern Sports Daily reported yesterday. Nan was arrested in January.
A statement issued yesterday by Nike Greater China communications director Jeanne Huang said: 'Nike has not been contacted by the authorities in China in relation to the Super League. Nike employee Li Tong has not reported to work since Wednesday September 8.
'We have no further comment at this time.'
The Xinmin Evening News cited an unnamed police source as saying Li had been taken to Shenyang, Liaoning , for interrogation, but the source did not know why.
Nike signed a 10-year sponsorship deal with the league last year, paying US$15 million the first year, to provide uniforms to the 16 teams. With a 10 per cent price rise each year, the deal would have totalled more than US$200 million.