Chinese Football Association Bans 43 People for⁣ Life Over Match-Fixing⁣ and Gambling

On March 3,⁤ 2005, the ‌Chinese men’s football team lost 1-3 against the North Korean team in the qualifiers for the ⁤Fourth East ‌Asian men’s football team. (Image source: Getty Images)

Chinese Football Association Announces Punishment List

According to AFP citing official Chinese media ​Xinhua News Agency,⁢ the Chinese Football Association announced on Tuesday (September 10) that 43 ⁣people, including 3 ex-Chinese​ national football team players and South Korean international ⁣Son Jun-ho,​ were banned​ for life from participating in ⁢any domestic football-related activities.

Crackdown on Corruption in‌ Chinese Sports

Agence France-Presse reported‍ that in recent years, the Chinese government has increased its⁣ crackdown ⁤on ⁢corruption ‌in the world of​ Chinese sports, especially in the world of football, and has imprisoned a number of ‌senior officials.

Investigation into Illegal Gambling ⁣and Match-Fixing

China’s Ministry⁢ of Public​ Security said a total of 128 people were involved in a⁤ two-year ⁢investigation into illegal‌ gambling and match-fixing in Chinese football, and 43 people were banned from participating in ​any football‌ activities‌ in the country for life.

Former National Players ⁣Banned for Life

Former⁤ Chinese international Jin‌ Jingdao, who also plays for the Shandong ‍Taishan ⁤team, ​is said to have also been included in the lifetime ban list. Former ‍national football team player Wang Song was also banned for five ​years.

Senior Officials Sacked Over ‌Corruption Investigations

Agence France-Presse reported ⁢that ‌China’s soccer governing body⁤ itself has also come under strict scrutiny, with more than a dozen senior officials ‌sacked⁢ over corruption investigations.

Former Chairman Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

In March this year, the Chinese government​ sentenced ​former ‍chairman Chen Xuyuan to life ​imprisonment for accepting⁤ what it called “extraordinarily large” ⁢bribes. In August, a⁣ Chinese court‌ sentenced former⁤ Chinese Football Association Vice Chairman Li‌ Yuyi to ‌11 years in prison for⁢ taking bribes.

Chinese Football Association to ⁣Report to International Organizations

Song⁣ Kai, chairman of the Chinese Football Association, said⁤ that now ‍after​ the disciplinary decision is announced, the relevant ​situation will be honestly reported⁤ to international​ organizations, and the‍ relevant‌ international ⁢organizations will decide whether to⁤ take further action.