In a dramatic turn of events, South Korean footballer Son Jun-ho has vehemently denied accusations of match-fixing and bribery made by Chinese authorities. During a tearful press conference on Wednesday, Son declared his innocence, claiming he confessed to the charges under duress. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) had previously issued a lifetime ban on Son, along with 38 other players and five officials, following a two-year investigation into match-fixing and gambling. This investigation was part of a larger crackdown on corruption within the sport.
Son, who was detained in China for nearly 10 months, alleged that he was coerced into a false confession, stating, “I never took part in match-fixing. The only evidence they have is my false confession made under coercion.” The footballer broke down in tears as he revealed that he was threatened with the arrest and investigation of his wife if he did not accept the charges.
The midfielder, who lost his place in the South Korean national team following the scandal, was released and returned home in March. He initially agreed not to speak about his experience in detention as a condition of his release. However, Son decided to break his silence after being shocked to find himself included in China’s list of lifetime bans.
While Son admitted to facing harsh conditions during his detention, he denied any mistreatment. The Chinese Football Association has not yet responded to Son’s allegations, and the General Administration of Sport of China, as well as the foreign and public security ministries, have yet to comment.
This scandal has also resulted in lifetime bans for three former Chinese internationals, Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu, and Gu Chao. The public security ministry and the General Administration of Sport of China announced these findings at a press conference on Tuesday.
Son, who was playing for the Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan FC when he was detained last May, was initially accused of accepting bribes. He has since signed with the South Korean side Suwon FC and expressed his hope to continue his football career despite the controversy surrounding him.
