January 29, 2025 3 min read

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FIFA Sides with Athlete, Disregards Chinese Match-Fixing Ban

Despite China’s recent crackdowns on match-fixing and the subsequent harsh penalties for suspected individuals, FIFA refused to extend the ban worldwide

South Korean athlete Son Jun-ho is free to play professional soccer around the world outside China after FIFA refused to extend a lifetime ban imposed by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) over match-fixing allegations. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced the decision on Friday, confirming FIFA’s stance, which significantly lessens the CFA’s punishment of Son.

The Player Maintained His Innocence

Son, a star midfielder who won the 2020 K-League MVP, was accused of match-fixing in May 2023 while playing for Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan. The allegations came as part of a sweeping crackdown on corruption in Chinese soccer. Authorities detained Son for 10 months before releasing him in early 2024.

Throughout the investigation, the South Korean athlete denied all allegations of match-fixing. While Son acknowledged receiving 200,000 yuan ($27,600) from a close friend in China, he insisted the money was unrelated to illicit activities. He joined South Korea’s Suwon FC in June  2024, but his contract was cut short three months later as the CFA issued him a lifetime ban.

I never took part in match-fixing. The only evidence they have is my false confession made under coercion.

Son Jun-ho

As February’s 2025 K-League season approaches, Son remains without a club. However, FIFA’s decision should significantly improve his chances of returning to the field as local and international teams look to beef up their rosters. The 32-year-old player has 20 international appearances and has repeatedly demonstrated his skills, bolstering his chances of a 2025 return.

China Continues Its Crackdown Against Match-Fixing

Son’s case is part of a broader corruption scandal that has rocked Chinese soccer since 2022. A large-scale probe resulted in actions against a total of 128 people, including players, officials, and executives from 41 clubs. Of those implicated, 43 have faced lifetime bans based on alleged gambling, match-fixing, and bribery.

The Chinese Ministry of Public Security noted that combating corruption in sports has emerged as one of its priorities. Authorities have issued prison sentences to 34 individuals connected to soccer, underlining the severity of such violations. Despite these measures, international organizations have cast doubt on the validity of some of these sentences, as evident in the case of Son Jun-ho.

FIFA’s stance casts a shadow over the CFA’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of soccer and raises questions about the global enforcement of disciplinary measures by individual soccer associations. For Son Jun-ho, the FIFA ruling opens the door for the revival of a promising career that was so suddenly derailed.

Deyan is an experienced writer, analyst, and seeker of forbidden lore. He has approximate knowledge about many things, which he is always willing to apply when researching and preparing his articles. With a degree in Copy-editing and Proofreading, Deyan is able to ensure that his work writing for Gambling News is always up to scratch.

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