A South Korean international soccer player who was one of 43 individuals barred by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) for alleged corruption yesterday alleges that he was coerced by Chinese law enforcement into falsely admitting to match manipulation schemes.
While giving a tearful speech in Seoul on Wednesday, former Chinese Super League athlete Son Jun-ho recounted his detention by Chinese authorities in May 2023 as he attempted to exit the country.
The defensive midfielder, who participated in three of South Korea’s four matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was unable to go back to his home country until March of this year.
Son was detained on “suspicion of accepting bribes by non-state employees” and stated that he was coerced into providing a confession.
Threats to Family
“The Chinese police leveled absurd accusations against me,” he stated, as reported and translated by the Associated French Press. “They threatened that if I didn’t confess to the charges, my spouse would be apprehended through the foreign ministry and taken to the same prison for interrogation alongside me.”
Son mentioned that his interrogators presented him with images of his children, questioning, “What did they do to deserve this? If your spouse joins you here, how will the children cope? Don’t you believe your kids would like to see their father?”
The footballer claimed that he was not given access to Korean translations or a legal representative. He was assured that admitting guilt would lead to a quick release and a reunion with his family.
Overwhelmed with fear and worry for my family, I had no option but to acknowledge charges I didn’t even comprehend, just to be reunited with my family as soon as possible,” Son said, wiping away tears.
He urged Chinese authorities to release audio recordings of the interrogations, which he believes would demonstrate that the confession was obtained under duress.
Scapegoating Fears
Chinese authorities have placed blame on widespread corruption in soccer for the nation’s inability to excel on the global stage.
In 2015, President Xi Jinping expressed his desire to rejuvenate the men’s national team, which had not qualified for a World Cup since 2002. However, despite the substantial investments made in the sport since Xi’s announcement, the team’s performance has worsened.
Xi rose to power on an anti-corruption platform, and his continuous anti-corruption campaigns have affected all sections of society. While corruption undoubtedly exists in Chinese soccer, observers have speculated that some individuals may be taking the blame to protect Xi’s reputation.
Li Tie was one of the few Chinese players to excel in the English Premier League and later served as the coach of the Chinese national team. However, he was dismissed in 2021 after failing to secure qualification for another World Cup. A year later, he was arrested for bribery.
The CFA’s sanctions this week follow China’s humiliating 7-0 loss to Japan, one of its major sporting and geopolitical rivals, marking one of the country’s most embarrassing defeats in soccer history.