South Korean Soccer Star Son Jun-ho Claims Coerced Confession in Match-Fixing Scandal

 

On Wednesday, Son tearfully rejected the accusations leveled against him by Chinese officials, asserting that his confession was given under duress. The previous day, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) imposed lifetime bans on 38 players, including Son, and five officials as part of a two-year investigation targeting match-fixing and gambling in a broader anti-corruption campaign.

“I never participated in match-fixing,” Son stated at a news conference, visibly emotional. “The only evidence they have is my false confession, which was made under pressure,” he added, breaking down in tears.

Son alleged that he was threatened with his wife’s arrest and investigation if he did not admit to the charges.

The midfielder, who has been excluded from the South Korean national team since the scandal emerged, was released and returned home in March after nearly ten months of detention in China. He mentioned that he had initially agreed to remain silent about his detention conditions as a part of his release terms but decided to speak out upon learning of his inclusion in the bans.

Although Son stated that he was not mistreated during his detention, he described the conditions as harsh.

The CFA has yet to respond to Son’s allegations, and inquiries to the General Administration of Sport of China and other relevant ministries have gone unanswered.

The public security ministry and the General Administration of Sport of China revealed on Tuesday that three former Chinese internationals—Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu, and Gu Chao—were also banned for life in the same investigation.

At the time of his detention in May, the Chinese foreign ministry accused Son, who was with the Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan FC, of accepting bribes. Son, now signed with South Korean side Suwon FC, expressed hope for the continuation of his soccer career.