By BBBB
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has announced that 43 players have been banned from football for life for their alleged roles in match fixing.
The announcement was made at a joint press conference held by the State Sports General Administration and the Ministry of Public Security during which both departments outlined their latest efforts to crack down on ‘fake gambling and black market’ issues within the professional game.
According to the CFA, the list of banned people includes three former China international players – Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu and Gu Chao –and South Korean player Son Jun-ho.
Son, who played in three games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has since returned to Korea where he now plays for K League 1 club Suwon FC. His representatives have stated that he refutes the charges and will release a statement soon.
The two-year investigation into illegal activity within the local professional game resulted in criminal charges brought against 83 players, referees, coaches, and club managers involved in the case.
Details of the investigation:
- 128 suspects arrested in connection with match fixing
- 12 illegal online gambling rings shut down
- 120 matches identified as suspicious
- Criminal charges against 83 people working in football
- 44 players sentenced in court
- 34 player received prison terms
- 17 people banned from football for 5 years
The investigation also found that Shen Liuxi, a former player who was banned from engaging in any football-related activities for life in 2013, had opened an illegal betting operation and was allegedly involved with match-fixing.
China’s Football Corruption Problem
The latest investigation follows recent bans handed to high-level officials and players in the local professional game. So far 10 CFA employees have been banned or sentenced to prison terms for the roles in alleged corruption.
In March of this year, Chen Xuyuan, the former chairman of the CFA, was given a life sentence in prison for receiving bribes. The charges against him included accepting more than 81.03 million yuan ($11 million) in bribes throughout his tenure at the CFA.
At the same time China’s former national coach and ex-premier League midfielder Li Tie was found guilty of accepting more than $10.7 million in bribes for helping to fix matches. He also received a life sentence.
In May, an investigation was launched into the activities of the former director of the General Administration of Sport of China, Gou Zhongwen.
In August Li Yuyi, a former vice-president of the Chinese Football Association, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for taking bribes.
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