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.
South Korean international footballer Son Jun-ho has made a remarkable comeback by joining an amateur fifth-tier club, Seoul-based Kunyoong FC, after spending 10 months in detention in China. The 31-year-old World Cup midfielder was detained in May 2022 on suspicion of bribery while playing for Chinese Super League side Shandong. He was released last month but the Chinese authorities have not provided further details about the case. Son, who made three appearances for South Korea at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, aims to regain his fitness at Kunyoong FC before joining a professional club in the summer.
