The Chinese Football Association today announced a list of 43 people who have been handed lifetime bans for gambling and match-fixing offences.
As part of the country’s ongoing crackdown on corruption, a two-year investigation into match fixing and gambling was conducted, resulting in today’s stunning announcement.
Speaking at a press conference today in Dalian, Liaoning Province, the Ministry of Public Security’s Zhang Xiaopeng revealed that the investigation uncovered 120 matches had been fixed, involving 41 different clubs at all levels of the sport.
The report did not state, however, if all matches only took place in China.
Arguably the highest profile players to feature in the report, and receive lifetime bans, included former China internationals Gu Chao (formerly Jiangu Suning and Zhejiang), Jin Jingdao (formerly Shandong Taishan) and Guo Tianyu (currently with Chiangrai United in Thailand), South Korea international Son Jun-ho — the latter of whom was detained for 10 months in China before being released and allowed to return home.
In addition to those receiving lifetime bans are 17 other who have been handed five-year bans.
This includes former Heilongjiang Ice City, Zhejiang and Guangxi Pingguo Hailiao forward Donovan Ewolo and the Chinese Super League’s record holder for the most appearances — Wang Song, currently with China League One side Shijiazhuang Gongfu.
The announcement follows the high-profile trial of former China National Team head coach Li Tie, who is still involved in an ongoing investigation into bribery and corruption, which could see him handed criminal charges and a lengthy jail sentence.
It is yet another stain on football in the Middle Kingdom, which had match fixing issues in the early 2000s and has suffered through a spate of financial difficulties for multiple clubs over the past two decades.
The punishments that could be forthcoming beyond the football bans will ultimately serve as a deterrent for any future match fixing potential — at least that will be the hope.