Chinese Football Association "Illegal Profits from Match-Fixing... Lifetime Ban"
Football player Son Junho (32, Suwon FC), who was permanently banned by the Chinese Football Association on charges of match-fixing, claimed that Chinese public security threatened him by mentioning his family and forced him to admit the charges.
On the afternoon of the 11th, at a press conference held at the Suwon Sports Complex Gymnasium in Gyeonggi, Son Junho said, "The Chinese public security threatened me through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that they would arrest my wife and investigate her together with me at the detention center where I was held."
Son Junho stated, "The Chinese public security said that if I admit the charges now, I could be released in as soon as 7 to 15 days. They coaxed me by saying that since I am a foreigner, there are diplomatic issues, and bail is also possible," adding, "Although I did not even know what the charges were, I had no choice but to admit them because they said I could return to my family quickly," expressing his grievance.
He said, "During the public security investigation, I wanted to reveal the illegal investigation process by releasing audio files, but the public security said they only have video and not a single audio recording," and added, "The only evidence they have is my false confession obtained through initial coercive interrogation."
The day before, the Chinese Football Association announced, "According to facts recognized by judicial authorities, former Shandong Taishan player Son Junho participated in unfair transactions to seek unjust benefits, manipulated football matches, and obtained illegal profits," and declared, "Son Junho is banned for life from any football-related activities."
The Chinese Football Association notified the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) of the disciplinary action, and after FIFA’s disciplinary committee reviews it and communicates the sanctions to each member country, Son Junho will have to end his football career.
Son Junho was detained by public security while attempting to return home through Shanghai Hongqiao Airport in China in May last year, and was subsequently criminally detained and investigated by the Chaoyang Public Security Bureau in Liaoning Province. His charge is "bribery by a non-state actor," which applies when a person affiliated with a company or other entity, rather than a government agency, illegally receives property by abusing their official position.
Son Junho has strongly denied any involvement in match-fixing or the possibility of money exchanging hands during his transfer to Shandong. After being detained for about 10 months, Son Junho was released in March and returned to the K League 1 stage in June wearing the Suwon FC uniform.
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