Son Joon-ho (32, Suwon FC) is at a crossroads in his career.
The Chinese Football Association has notified FIFA and the Korea Football Association (KFA) of the permanent expulsion of Son Joon-ho. A KFA official said, "An official letter came from the Chinese Football Association on the 11th. Son Jun-ho was permanently expelled from the club and notified FIFA of this fact. The official letter sent to the KFA reported the permanent expulsion of Son Joon-ho to FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It is reported that discussions on future measures are underway.
If FIFA holds a disciplinary committee to review the disciplinary contents of the Chinese Football Association and delivers Son Joon-ho's disciplinary information to each member country, Son Jun-ho will not be able to play as a soccer player in any country. Shortly after the Chinese Football Association's announcement of a permanent expulsion disciplinary action against Son Joon-ho, the KFA asked China to share the related information, and confirmed the official letter on the morning of the 12th.
On the 10th, China's Sports Bureau and the Ministry of Public Security jointly held a press conference in Dalian on special corrective measures in the illegal gambling and match-fixing cases of soccer professional leagues. The head of China's Ministry of Public Security has focused on investigating related gambling and match-fixing incidents by deploying public security agencies in Liaoning Province since 2022, and has established a comprehensive plan to crack down on illegal crimes such as online gambling, match-fixing, and bribery. As a result, they arrested 128 suspected criminals, wiped out 12 online gambling organizations, identified 120 suspected gambling and match-fixing matches, and took criminal action against 83 players, referees, coaches and club managers involved in the incident" he said. Forty-four football officials involved in the case were sentenced in court under the law, and 34 were sentenced to life imprisonment or more," he added.
The Chinese Football Association has announced disciplinary measures for 61 people. The Chinese Football Association permanently expelled 43 players who played in Shandong Taishan, Shenyang Hongwin, Jiangsu Suning and Shanghai Shenhua, and suspended 17 players for five years, respectively. Son Jun-ho was permanently removed. The Chinese Football Association said Son Joon-ho pursued negative interests and damaged the athletic spirit. In accordance with the rules of the Chinese Football Association, a permanent expulsion is imposed that prohibits football-related activities. As a result, Son Joon-ho could not only select the national team but also block his career.
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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China has made a large-scale move to combat corruption and match fixing prevalent in the soccer community. In the process, former Chinese national team coach Littier was sentenced to life in prison for match fixing, and a series of Chinese soccer greats were put together. The movement of the Chinese Football Association was announced through the announcement of Hong Myung-bo's list on the 26th. Coach Hong did not select Son Joon-ho, who was in good form after returning to the K League 1. In response, Hong said, `Son Joon-ho is watching, but..., There was something that was not yet clear (about China)", he explained. The risk that Hong mentioned was 'Disciplinary action by the Chinese Football Association'. The Korea Football Association waited for the results of the Chinese Football Association's punishment of Son Joon-ho. The "judicial proceedings" have been completed, but the Korea Football Association decided not to forcefully select Son Joon-ho in the face of the remaining disciplinary action by the Chinese Football Association. If the Chinese Football Association notifies FIFA of disciplinary action above a certain level, it is applied internationally, so eyes and ears have been focused on the announcement. In the end, the worst came out.
Son Joon-ho was arrested by public security in May last year while trying to return home through Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai, China, and was later detained in criminal custody and questioned by the Chaoyang Public Security Bureau in Liaoning Province. Son Joon-ho is accused of accepting non-state workers. The charges apply when a person belonging to a company or other unit other than a government agency illegally receives other people's property using his or her job convenience. As a result, he participated in the match fixingThere was a possibility that money and goods might have been exchanged in the process of moving to Shandong, but Son Joon-ho has strongly denied the allegations. Son Joon-ho was released in March and returned home.
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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Son Joon-ho immediately started to build up his body and tried to return to the ground. In April, the Korea Football Association approved the registration and put the opponent in K5 League's Geonyong FC. Son Joon-ho, who continued his training at his former team, Jeonbuk Hyundai, wore Suwon FC uniforms through the summer transfer market. Son Joon-ho, who improved his condition through replacement, quickly returned to the starting lineup, and Son Joon-ho led Suwon FC's rise. He also scored a goal in an away game against Ulsan HD on the 18th of last month. It was the first K-League score in 1,400 days. Son Joon-ho even dreamed of returning to the national team, but the Chinese Football Association's severe disciplinary action faced a crisis again.
Eventually, he opened his mouth himself. Son Joon-ho held an official press conference on the 2nd floor of the Suwon Sports Center on the 11th and held on to soccer thoughts by washing with cold water at minus 25 degrees Celsius (Chinese detention center). Depression came, and there was a situation where I couldn't eat. I endured it because I was confident that I did not rig the match."
At the press conference, Son Joon-ho showed the phrase "'Arrest on charges of bribery' in Korean translation at the time of the arrest. I said I never did this. I said I'd hire a lawyer, but the police interpreter is not a big deal. I didn't apply for a lawyer because I don't think I'll need a lawyer.'
He threatened that the Chinese police could arrest my wife through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and investigate her together at the detention center where I was. Showing pictures of daughters and sons on their cell phones, he forced them to quickly admit the charges, saying, `What are the children guilty of, how will the children be if their mother comes here?' If the Chinese public security admits to the charges even now, it could go out as early as 7 to 15 days later. He conciliated that he is a foreigner, has diplomatic issues, and bail is possible. It was a charge that I didn't know what it was, but I had no choice but to admit it when I heard that I could quickly return to my family's arms."
Son Joon-ho said, `I want to proudly reveal my innocence, but the public security says there is only a video and not a single voice. For them, the only evidence is my false confession through initial pressure investigations. At the end, a person who appeared to be a judge and a high-ranking official stressed that 'You shouldn't disclose this content, if you do, you'll make it a big problem, and you won't let soccer play.'" I was subsequently released after a perfunctory trial and returned to Korea. I applied for an ITC to the Chinese Football Association through the Korea Football Association (KFA), and I was happy to come out unexpectedly quickly and continue my career in Korea."
The key is the truth of 200,000 yuan exchanged with a Shandong colleague. He said "I've never rigged a match, I've never received it. It is absolutely not illegal money. He was the only player who could speak Korean. We stayed strong for two and a half years. I even borrowed Chinese money when I needed it. It's because it's a friend relationship, but it's not because it's a match-fixing.
The Chinese public security paid attention to the match against Shanghai Sanggang in January last year. Son Joon-ho said "I talked about only one game against Shanghai Sanggang. I'm a defensive midfielder, and I think if it's manipulation, it's a loss due to exit, warning, penalty kick, pass miss. It's not even a position to score a goal. I want to show the game. He played proudly and drew against the strong team. I couldn't accept the match because it was a match-fixing. I got 200,000 yuan five to six days after the game. You can also lend money and pay it back. He gave a present to the soccer class. I borrowed money accurately for a large amount of money. I don't remember the money he gave me as a gift."
He finally "I don't think everyone will think well. Please protect and help me as a citizen. There is not a single lie. I talked about 10 months of things. The clots may not have been 100% solved, but I think I've said everything as of today. There is nothing more to say."
The Chinese Football Association even sent an official letter, and Son Joon-ho's life as a player is expected to be determined by the judgment of FIFA and KFA.
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
