What’s new: Multiple Chinese professional soccer players were taken away by police for investigation, Caixin learned from sources.
Jin Jingdao, a midfielder for the Shandong Taishan Soccer Club and a former player on China’s national team, was taken into custody by police March 17 in Shanghai and hasn’t returned to the club, Caixin learned from sources. The club declined to comment.
Several other soccer players were also arrested the same day, Caixin learned from people familiar with the matter. It’s not clear what the investigation may be about, but some sources said it might be related to a police investigation in northeastern China.
One of the players questioned by police in Guangzhou said he was asked about match manipulation by a previous club of his, people familiar with the matter told Caixin.
The background: A string of soccer officials have been placed under investigation by the country’s anti-graft watchdog since late last year, including the former head coach of the Chinese men’s soccer team Li Tie, as authorities deepen a crackdown on corruption in the sport.
Some sports journalists said the most recent police investigation may be not related to Li’s case but may involve sports gambling.
China’s soccer industry has long been criticized by fans for the abysmal record of the men’s national team, lavish salaries paid players and scandals involving soccer stars.
Contact reporter Denise Jia (huijuanjia@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bob.simison@caixin.com)
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