South Korean midfielder Son Ju-ho’s contract with Suwon FC has been terminated by mutual agreement following his lifetime ban from Chinese football for alleged match-fixing and bribery. Son, who denies the accusations, claims he made a false confession under duress during his detention in China. His future remains uncertain as FIFA is expected to review his case.
South Korean footballer Son Jun-ho, banned for life by the Chinese Football Association for alleged match-fixing, tearfully denied the accusations, claiming he gave a false confession under duress. Son, who spent nearly 10 months in detention in China, alleges he was threatened with his wife’s arrest if he didn’t confess.
China has banned 43 individuals for life, including former international players, for their alleged involvement in gambling and match-fixing. The crackdown on corruption in Chinese football comes amid a broader effort by President Xi Jinping to clean up the sport and achieve his ambitious goals for the national team.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has banned five more tennis players for their involvement in a match-fixing syndicate that operated in Belgium. The players admitted to their involvement and accepted their suspensions, which range from two years to five years.
Sri Lankan spinner Praveen Jayawickrama has been charged by the ICC with three counts of breaching the anti-corruption code, including failing to report match-fixing approaches and deleting evidence. The charges stem from alleged approaches made to him to fix international matches and Lanka Premier League games in 2021.
Afghanistan international cricketer Ihsanullah Jannat has been banned for five years from all forms of cricket for match-fixing during the Kabul Premier League. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) found him guilty of violating the ICC’s anti-corruption code and admitted his involvement in corrupt activities.
Yoni Patel, cricket team manager of the Legend Cricket League 2024, has been indicted before the Colombo High Court over match-fixing charges. Former New Zealand legend Neil Broom and Sri Lankan cricketer Upul Tharanga had alleged that Patel pressured them into match-fixing deals during the tournament. The State Counsel representing Sri Lanka’s Attorney General informed that an indictment for a criminal trial before the High Court had been filed. Patel is currently under a travel ban from leaving Sri Lanka.
