(GUO YONG)

Wei Di, the newly appointed chief of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), pledged to lead the scandal-tainted sport back to top level in Asia during his tenure.

At his media debut after taking office on February 2, Wei, who has five years before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60, said, "Though five years is too short for an overhaul for a sport as big as football, I will try my best."

More than 20 officials, players and club managers, including Wei's predecessor Nan Yong and Nan's deputy Yang Yimin, have been arrested or detained over the past two months in a clampdown on gambling and match-fixing.

"I will resign if I fail," Wei said.

Before taking over the CFA on January 22, Wei was head of the Aquatic Sports Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport. Since 2001, when Wei took over, Chinese athletes have made great breakthroughs in winning the country's first canoe, rowing and sailing gold medals in Olympic history at the 2004 and 2008 games.

Holding a Master's degree in educational science, Wei also served as president of the Shenyang Sports Institute and as a director of boxing and heavy sports administrative centers.