The Chinese Football Association has issued lifetime bans on 43 individuals from the sport due to involvement in gambling and match-fixing.

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has imposed lifetime suspensions on 43 individuals from participating in football-related activities due to their involvement in gambling and match-fixing.

Zhang Xiaopeng, a senior official from China’s Ministry of Public Security, disclosed that the investigation spanned two years and examined 120 matches, involving 128 criminal suspects and 41 football clubs.

In total, 44 individuals are facing criminal charges for bribery, gambling, and the unlawful operation of casinos, while an additional 17 are also being penalized for bribery and match-fixing. Of the 44, 43 have received lifetime bans from football-related activities, and the remaining 17 have been given five-year suspensions.

Included in the list are several professional players and club officials who have received either lifetime or five-year bans. However, former Hangzhou Greentown player Shen Liuxi did not receive a lifetime ban this time, as he had already been banned for life in 2013.

A CFA announcement stated: “Based on the findings of the judicial authorities, Son Jun-ho, a former athlete of Shandong Taishan FC, engaged in unlawful transactions, manipulated football matches, and acquired illegal profits to pursue illicit advantages. His conduct severely breached sports ethics and sportsmanship, resulting in a considerable negative social impact.”

This information follows the arrest of 21 individuals in Beijing during the summer for conducting illegal betting operations related to Euro 2024, which were part of the Beijing Public Security Bureau’s initiative to combat illegal gambling during the tournament.

In recent months, the A-League in Australia has also been embroiled in a betting scandal, with three players facing charges linked to alleged betting corruption, along with two additional players under suspicion.