Kicking Corruption to the Curb: 120 Sports Anchors Caught in Match-Fixing Scandal – What’s the Real Score for Chinese Football
Chinese Football Rocked by Match-Fixing Scandal
September 10, 2024
A devastating blow has been dealt to Chinese football, with 43 individuals, including international player Kim Jong-dao, receiving lifetime bans from the sport. This announcement comes after a thorough investigation into match-fixing and gambling in professional football leagues.
Investigation and Penalties
The investigation, led by China’s State Sports General Administration and the Ministry of Public Security, has been ongoing since 2022. To date, 128 criminal suspects have been arrested, 12 online gambling gangs have been dismantled, and 120 suspected matches have been identified as potentially being fixed.
Of the 83 players, referees, coaches, and club managers involved in the scandal, 44 have been sentenced by the court, with 34 receiving fixed-term imprisonment or more severe penalties.
Chinese Football Association’s Response
The Chinese Football Association has taken swift action, imposing disciplinary punishments on 61 football employees involved in the scandal. This includes lifetime bans for 43 individuals, including Kim Jong-dao, from engaging in any football-related activities in China.
The association has emphasized its commitment to eradicating corruption in the sport, stating that any individuals or clubs found to be involved in match-fixing or other illicit activities will face severe consequences and be publicly exposed.
Reaction from Former Sports Commentator
Han Qiaosheng, a well-known former sports commentator, has expressed his dismay at the scale of the scandal. He lamented that the involvement of 41 club teams and the suspected fixing of 120 matches has left him questioning the future of Chinese football.
“Most of the players have been sentenced, and other participants can’t even think about running away!”, he wrote. “If you just say that these 120 match-fixing games, 41 teams participated, involving almost all important leagues, how can Chinese football get better?”
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Sun Zhunhao, a former football player, was expelled from the Chinese Football Association for life. He denied any involvement in match-fixing and threatened to reveal the truth.