Ex-soccer stars arrested for bribery
- By Xiang Bin
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 23, 2012
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Qi Hong Li Ming |
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Jiang Jin Shen Si |
Police have arrested four former China international soccer stars on suspicion of accepting bribes.
Former China internationals Shen Si, Qi Hong, Jiang Jin and Li Ming were arrested by police yesterday on suspicion of accepting bribes totaling 8 million yuan (1.27 million US $), according to Morning Express, a Hangzhou-based newspaper.
In a match between Shanghai International and Tianjin Taida, the last game of the 2002/03 Chinese first division soccer league season, Tianjin Taida beat Shanghai International 2-1, getting the points they needed to avoid relegation.
All four players, who are now retired, played in the match for Shanghai International and their performances in the game were widely thought to have been erratic. There have also been rumors that Tianjin Taida’s attempts to "buy" the game were rejected by Shanghai International, who still had a chance of winning the league title going into the match.
All four players are well known in China, with Qi and Jiang making important contributions to China’s successful qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup.
China instigated a nationwide crackdown on gambling and match-fixing in late 2009, which has led to the arrests and sentencing of soccer officials, club managers, top referees and players.
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