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Chinese Football Association Bans 43 People For Match-Fixing

The Chinese Football Association has taken a drastic step in the wake of a severe match-fixing scandal. They have banned 43 individuals, including three former Chinese internationals, South Korean World Cup player Son Jun-ho, and Cameroon international Ewolo Donovan. These players were found guilty of alleged match-fixing and corruption, a serious offence that has rocked the football community. This article provides an in-depth look into the investigation conducted by the Chinese Football Association, which led to the bans of these 43 individuals.

Why Did The Chinese Football Association Impose A Ban?

Credit: The Independent

Reports indicate that a two-year investigation led by senior police official Zhang Xiaopeng was instrumental in uncovering the match-fixing scandal. The investigation, which was carried out by the Chinese Football Association, revealed a series of online gambling, match-fixing, and bribery cases, leading to the bans of 43 individuals.

The investigation included 128 criminal suspects and 41 clubs spanning 120 different domestic matches. The Chinese Association found 38 players and five officials guilty and banned them. Former Chinese internationals Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu, and Gu Chao were among those banned, alongside former Shandong Taishan FC player Son Jun-ho, who represented his nation at the FIFA World Cup.

Breaking:
The Chinese Football Association banned 38 footballers and five club officials for life after conducting a detailed investigation into match-fixing and gambling. This is part of China's crackdown on sports corruption.#China #footballnews #sport pic.twitter.com/CSPy90QbMl

— Verna Hernandez (@VernaHe62791816) September 11, 2024

A statement from the Chinese Football Association said Son’s actions “seriously violated sports ethics and sportsmanship, causing a significant negative impact on society.” Son Jun-ho and Ewolo Donovan were also found guilty of the same charges as the Chinese internationals, who were foreign players and were given a shortened ban. Both of them received five-year bans for allegedly being involved in match-fixing.

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This incident casts another shadow on the state of Chinese football. Chinese President Xi Jinping had pledged to make China a football superpower, and while their lucrative wages had attracted a few stars to the Chinese Super League, the overall project seemed to have failed. Promises to build new pitches and hire staff have fallen short as the economy struggles to regain its feet following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chinese Football Association decided to try to attract foreign players by paying them high wages instead of investing in youth development. Due to this, while CSL attracted top talents for a while, China itself did not develop. Their shortcomings were very visible in their recent game against Japan, as they were thrashed 7-0.

The match-fixing scandal is the latest problem in Chinese football. However, the bans they have imposed upon the players have taken a step in the right direction. Something as serious as match-fixing in football cannot be left alone and must be punished severely. It will be interesting to see if this investigation by the Chinese Football Association stops cheating in Chinese football altogether or if it is only a temporary solution to a permanent problem.

For more news and updates on Chinese football, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram.

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