The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has issued lifetime bans from football-related activities to 43 people for gambling and match-fixing.
Zhang Xiaopeng, a senior official from China's Ministry of Public Security, detailed the two-year-long probe, which included 120 matches, 128 criminal suspects, and 41 football teams.
In total, 44 people face criminal charges for bribery, gambling, and illegal casino operation, while 17 others face charges for bribery and match rigging. Of the 44, 43 have been barred from participating in football-related activities for the rest of their lives, while 17 have received five-year bans.
There are a number of professional players and club executives on the list who have received lifetime or five-year bans, though former Hangzhou Greentown player Shen Liuxi did not earn a lifetime suspension this time, as he had already received one in 2013.
According to the evidence discovered by judicial authorities, Son Jun-ho, a former Shandong Taishan FC player, engaged in illicit transactions, manipulated football matches, and earned illegal earnings in order to pursue unlawful benefits. His acts blatantly breached sports ethics and sportsmanship, having a substantial negative social impact."
This report comes after 21 people were arrested in Beijing this summer for running illicit betting operations during Euro 2024, as part of the Beijing Public Security Bureau's attempts to combat illegal gambling during the competition.
In recent months, the A-League in Australia has been plagued by a betting controversy, with three players charged with alleged betting corruption and another two accused.
