(XINHUA)

Xie Yalong, former Vice President of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), is facing an upcoming trial as China started the long-awaited trials for soccer corruption on November 19. The date for Xie's trial has yet to be announced.

The first group of people on trial include Zhang Jianqiang, former Director of the CFA Referee Committee, Li Zhimin, a former member of the Board of Directors of Shaanxi Guoli soccer club, Yang Yimin, another vice president of the CFA, and Lu Jun, a 2002 World Cup referee who was once dubbed the country's "Golden Whistle."

Xie, 56, was vice president of the CFA from 2005 to 2008. In 2009, Xie was arrested for bribery and match-fixing.

China's professional soccer leagues have been plagued with allegations of gambling, match-fixing and corrupt referees for years. The police launched a probe in 2009.