BEIJING — South Korea midfielder Son Jun-ho has been detained within the northeastern Chinese province of Liaoning on suspicion of accepting a bribe, China’s Foreign Ministry mentioned Tuesday.
Spokesperson Wang Wenbin mentioned Son was positioned in custody “recently” and was below investigation. The South Korean consulate within the provincial capital of Shenyang had been knowledgeable of Son’s detention and allowed entry to the participant as required by worldwide treaty.
Son had been enjoying for the Chinese Super League’s Shandong Taishan, and Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post mentioned the bribery allegations involved suspected match-fixing involving coach Hao Wei.
Wang gave no particulars on the timing or circumstances of Son’s detention, however the Post mentioned he was detained at an airport together with his household on Friday whereas getting ready to go away the nation.
Lim Soo-suk, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, mentioned his authorities was offering Son with “necessary consular assistance” by the nation’s native missions. He didn’t present extra particulars on Son’s state of affairs, citing privateness causes.
Chinese soccer has struggled for years to rid itself of a popularity for corruption amongst coaches, crew house owners, gamers, referees and authorities sports officers.
The league solely simply restarted after being shut down below pandemic restrictions, groups are in dire monetary straits, and practically a dozen high-profile figures have been arrested on corruption allegations, together with former males’s nationwide coach Li Tie.
That comes regardless of a pledge by ruling Communist Party chief Xi Jinping to speculate closely to show China right into a soccer superpower. The drive has largely fallen flat, with the lads’s nationwide crew ranked 81st on the planet {and professional} groups relying closely on high-priced overseas gamers to attract audiences.
Son, 31, performed seven seasons with South Korea’s Pohang Steelers and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors earlier than becoming a member of Shandong Taishan in 2021 on a four-year contract, in keeping with trade web site transfermarket.com. He has performed for South Korea 18 instances, together with ultimately 12 months’s World Cup in Qatar.
Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com