File Photo: Nike's Chinese marketing director Li Tong (L) takes photo with former CSL manager Lu Feng [Photo: Sohu.com]

Nike's Chinese marketing director Li Tong has allegedly been taken by the police in cooperation with the probe into Chinese soccer gambling and bribery, Xinmin Evening News reports.

Li was reported to have been out of contact since September 8, 2010. The company confirmed his absence but no further information was given.

Li was China's top huddler in the 1990's.

An insider with Liaoning's public security department that is in charge of the investigation confirmed that Li was taken by the police in the city of Shenyang, saying Nike's sponsorship of the China's Super League (CSL) may lead to corruptions.

Nike became CSL's major sponsor in 2009 with a ten-year-long contract worth $200 million, far behind an Adidas' bidding for the "China Team" program that amounted to $500 million fro a six-year tenure.

Li's case also showed a sign that China's fight against scandals in the sport has extended to the areas out of the football circle.

The crackdown, which started in late last year, has led to the arrests of a dozen of officials from the CFA and clubs. Earlier reports said the former CFA head, Nan Yong, will face a jail term of up to ten years.