The investigation uncovered 120 fixed matches, involving 41 football clubs, according to a report by Zhang Xiaopeng, a senior official from the Ministry of Public Security.
Of those banned, 38 were players and five were club officials. High-profile names such as former Chinese internationals Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu, and Gu Chao were among those implicated.
South Korean player Son Jun-ho, who was released after a 10-month detention in China, was also included in the list of those banned.
In total, 44 individuals now face criminal penalties for bribery, gambling, and illegal casino activities. Out of these, 43 received lifetime bans, and another 17 were given five-year suspensions.
Chinese FA hands out 43 lifetime bans for gambling and match-fixinghttps://t.co/qLYc9ZBrn2 pic.twitter.com/9VwGRQmhMi
— EGR Global (@EGRIntel) September 10, 2024
This crackdown comes at a time when China is preparing for a World Cup qualifier, following a 7-0 loss to Japan.
Zhang Xiaopeng noted that this investigation is part of broader efforts to clean up corruption within Chinese football. “The integrity of the sport is paramount, and we will continue to take necessary steps to ensure that,” he said.
The match-fixing scandal has also had global repercussions. In the U.S., the Massachusetts Gaming Commission temporarily suspended betting on football matches governed by the CFA due to concerns over match integrity.
A total of 128 criminal suspects have been linked to this investigation, shaking public confidence in Chinese football’s future.
