SUWON, SOUTH KOREA:
South Korea Global Cup participant Son Jun-ho needy ill in tears Wednesday as he denied match-fixing and accused China of warning nearest they cancelled him for month.
Son, who performed for Shandong Taishan within the Chinese language Tremendous League, was once accused through the Chinese language Soccer Affiliation (CFA) of taking part in match-fixing and was once detained for 10 months closing 12 months
The midfielder, who seemed in 3 of South Korea’s 4 suits on the 2022 Global Cup in Qatar, returned to South Korea in March nearest being detained in Would possibly 2023.
However he was once one in every of 43 folk cancelled for month this moment through Chinese language government over alleged playing and match-fixing.
A weeping and visibly emotional Son instructed journalists that his arrest were an “overwhelming shock”.
He stated he were threatened through Chinese language police together with his nation, together with his kids, worn as bargaining chips to pressure him to admit to the costs.
“The Chinese police presented ridiculous charges,” he stated.
“They threatened that if I didn’t admit to the charges, my wife would be arrested through the foreign ministry and brought to the same detention centre to be investigated with me,” he stated.
He stated he was once now not given enough Korean translations or get right of entry to to a legal professional, and when he realised Chinese language police had been accusing him of bribery, he was once “dumbfounded”.
“I said I hadn’t done anything like that,” the 32-year-old stated, repeatedly having to forbid chatting with rub away tears.
Son was once held “on suspicion of accepting bribes by non-state employees” with out being given main points and he stated his nation had been worn to pull back a confession.
“While showing me pictures of my daughter and son on my phone, they pressured me, saying: ‘What did the children do to deserve this?’,” Son instructed journalists.
“‘If your wife comes here too, how will the kids manage? Don’t you think your children want to see their father? So admit it quickly’.”
He stated he was once introduced a trade in through Chinese language police, who instructed him if he admitted his guilt he could be immune briefly.
“Overwhelmed with fear and concern for my family, I had no choice but to admit to charges I didn’t even understand, just to return to my family quickly,” he stated.
He stated Chinese language police will have to let fall the audio information of his interrogation to turn “how they coerced a confession from me.”
“I want to clear my name with absolute transparency. The only evidence they had was my false confession, obtained through the intense pressure of their early interrogation tactics.”
Underneath President Xi Jinping, Beijing has deepened a crackdown on corruption in Chinese language sports activities lately, particularly soccer, and jailed various peak officers.
Xi is a self-confessed soccer enthusiast who has stated he desires of China internet hosting and successful the Global Cup.
However that ambition seems additional away than ever nearest repeated corruption scandals and years of disappointing effects at the sound.
Following his go back, Son joined South Korea’s fifth-tier league prior to making it to top-league staff Suwon FC in June. Son was once now not decided on for the nationwide squad for the 2026 Global Cup qualifiers over the week moment because of the “risk” related to the Chinese language allegations, the staff’s head schoolteacher, Hong Myung-bo, stated when he introduced the squad closing generation.
