Kicked Out for Life: Banned Footballers Fire Back with Scathing Response to Match-Fixing Fines Amid Wage Arrears Crisis
- The Chinese men's football team's recent 0:7 loss to Japan has sparked outrage among fans, but a deeper issue has come to light.
- Yang Wenji revealed that he was forced to participate in match-fixing due to long-term wage arrears.
- Yang Wenji's contract with the team was for 12,000 yuan per month before tax, with a promised winning bonus of 100,000 yuan per game.
Chinese Football Players Reveal Widespread Wage Arrears and Corruption
The Chinese men’s football team’s recent 0:7 loss to Japan has sparked outrage among fans, but a deeper issue has come to light. Yang Wenji, a former Jiangxi Lushan player banned for life by the Chinese Football Association, has spoken out about the widespread problem of wage arrears in the league.
Yang Wenji revealed that he was forced to participate in match-fixing due to long-term wage arrears. He stated that he was only paid for three months out of a six-month period and did not receive any bonuses. With a child to support, Yang Wenji felt he had no choice but to take part in the match-fixing scheme.
Yang Wenji’s contract with the team was for 12,000 yuan per month before tax, with a promised winning bonus of 100,000 yuan per game. However, the club failed to pay the wages and bonuses, leaving Yang Wenji with no choice but to seek alternative means to support his family.
Yang Wenji’s situation is not unique. He revealed that it is a common phenomenon for low-level teams to owe wages to players. The Chinese Football Association has ostensibly stipulated that clubs must pay back wages owed to players before participating in the new year’s league, but in reality, the association has delayed deadlines, and clubs have refused to acknowledge wage arrears.
Yang Wenji’s experience highlights the need for a sound and complete mechanism to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese players. He expressed regret for his actions and accepted the punishment but emphasized that the situation will continue unless the underlying issues are addressed.
Sun Dong, a former Jiangxi Beimeng gate player also on the banned list, echoed Yang Wenji’s sentiments, stating that most of the 122 games announced by the Chinese Football Association were caused by unpaid wages.
Netizens have expressed sympathy for the players, highlighting the difficulties they face in the professional league. Many have pointed out that the situation is not unique to football and that wage arrears and unfair treatment of employees are common in many industries.
The Chinese Communist Party has announced that 128 suspects of gambling and match-fixing have been arrested since 2022, with 83 players, referees, coaches, and club managers involved in the case. 44 football practitioners have been sentenced by the court, with 34 receiving fixed-term imprisonment or above.
The Chinese Football Association has reported that 61 people were involved in match-fixing and gambling, with 44 receiving criminal punishment and 17 found to have fixed matches.
Related Topics:
- Chinese Football Association
- Match-fixing
- Wage arrears
- Corruption in football
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Chinese football players reveal widespread wage arrears and corruption in the league, highlighting the need for a sound mechanism to protect players’ rights and interests.