Nike marketing director caught in Chinese football scandal

Nike China confirmed with the Shanghai-based Xinmin Evening News that Li "has been absent since 8 September", saying it did not have any further comments.

Li, an American green card holder and famous hurdler in the 90s, has been released, according to the report.

China Radio International reported today that the police in East China's Liaoning Province, which is in charge of the investigation, confirmed that Li had been taken to Shenyang. The report also claims Nike might have secured their US$200 million football sponsorship contract by bribing senior officials at the China Football Association (CFA).

Adidas became the sponsor of the national football team in 2003 through a six year contract worth US$500 million. In 2009, Nike scooped the contract at a much lower bidding price, leading to widespread speculations.

The investigation into the country's football circle, which started last year, has involved a dozen senior officials from CFA and certain football clubs, including former CFA heads Xie Yalong and Nan Yong.