New Delhi: The Chinese Football Association has imposed a lifetime ban on 43 individuals over alleged gambling and match-fixing. The life ban list includes three former Chinese internationals Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu, and Gu Chao as well as South Korean World Cup player Son Jun-ho.
In recent years, under President Xi Jinping Beijing has deepened a crackdown on corruption in Chinese sports, especially football, and jailed even several top officials. The investigation involved 41 clubs, 120 matches, and 128 suspects. Out of those who have been banned 38 are players and five are club officials.
Xi is obsessed with his nation’s football, who has said he dreams of his country hosting and winning the World Cup. But his ambition appears far away after repeated corruption scandals and years of disappointing results.
In a two-year probe, Xinhua News Agency revealed that they have uncovered a series of online gambling, match-fixing, and bribery cases in the domestic game. Some players and officials received short bans including foreign players who had moved to China for high salaries.
The CFA has also accused Son who has played for Shandong Taishan in the Chinese Super League. The international midfielder has represented South Korea in four matches at the 2022 World Cup and has returned to South Korea this year after being held in China since last May.
On Tuesday, 44 professional footballers, including Shandong Taishan player Jin Jingdao, were banned for life from football in China as China’s sport and public security authorities jointly issued sanctions on Tuesday, in the aftermath of a series of football corruption cases that… pic.twitter.com/f8eXd1A09x
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) September 10, 2024
The news came out hours later before a home 2026 World Cup qualifier between China and Saudi Arabia within a week after suffering a humiliating 7-0 defeat to their rivals Japan.
The Chinese men’s team still holds a chance at reaching the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup. So far China has qualified only once for the World Cup. China was No. 87 in the latest FIFA world rankings. But even with the larger field China still might fail to make it past the continental qualifying stage.
Chinese football rocked by scandal! 43 individuals, including ex-internationals were banned for life due to match-fixing and gambling. Corruption runs deep in Chinese sports. Will the nation ever achieve its World Cup dream? Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
