Korean participant Son Jun-ho breaks down throughout a press convention in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 11. Yonhap
China has knowledgeable the highest worldwide and Asian soccer our bodies of its latest resolution to ban Korean participant Son Jun-ho for all times over match-fixing expenses, the game’s nationwide soccer physique in Seoul stated Thursday.
An official for the Korea Soccer Affiliation (KFA) stated the Chinese language Soccer Affiliation (CFA) had despatched an official doc Wednesday notifying its Korean counterpart that it had despatched info concerning Son’s ban to FIFA and in addition the Asian Soccer Confederation.
The CFA introduced Tuesday that Son, who performed on the 2022 FIFA World Cup, was certainly one of 43 folks banned for all times from all football-related actions due to match fixing.
Ought to FIFA determine to use the ban worldwide, it will spell the tip of Son’s profession at 32.
The midfielder started his membership profession in Korea’s Ok League 1 in 2014 and received the league MVP award in 2020. He went on to play for Shandong Taishan FC in China from 2021 to 2023.
Son was detained by Chinese language authorities in Could final 12 months over bribery allegations and was launched in March this 12 months. He then signed for the Ok League 1 membership Suwon FC in June.
On Wednesday, Son held an emotional press convention during which he claimed his innocence and accused the Chinese language police of forcing him to confess to bogus bribery expenses. He stated police threatened to arrest his spouse until he confessed to taking a bribe.
Son additionally stated that previous to a trial, a decide supplied him a fast launch in trade for his admission to receiving 200,000 yuan ($28,090) in money. With an understanding that he would solely be charged with bribery however not match fixing, Son agreed to the deal and was despatched residence after 10 months in jail.
Son stated he was shocked that the CFA had banned him for match fixing as a result of he had by no means as soon as admitted to fixing matches and Chinese language authorities had didn’t current any proof that he had been concerned in fixing schemes.
Son acknowledged he as soon as obtained 200,000 yuan from his Shandong teammate, Jin Jingdao, a number of days after a January 2023 match that police claimed was fastened. Son stated he did not recall precisely why Jin had despatched him the cash however insisted that the transaction wasn’t executed for any unlawful causes.
When requested Thursday about Son’s assertion that he made a compelled confession, Chinese language international ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated China is “a rustic that upholds the rule of regulation.”
“The judicial authorities in China deal with instances in strict accordance with the regulation, and absolutely shield the lawful rights and pursuits of the individual involved,” Mao stated in her common press briefing, in accordance with an English-language transcript posted on the ministry’s web site. “Son Jun-ho admitted his wrongdoing, accepted the punishment, expressed regret in court docket and stated he wouldn’t attraction.”
In July 2012, the KFA knowledgeable FIFA of its resolution to concern lifetime bans on 41 Ok League gamers over match fixing, and the highest international soccer physique determined to use the bans world wide in January 2013. (Yonhap)
