Chinese authorities arrested Korean midfielder Son Jun-ho. According to a sports forum, they filed bribery charges against Son. Also, it was 37 days after authorities first detained him.
Son is in China to play in the Chinese Super League for the Shandong Taishan. According to betting odds experts, authorities detained him on May 12 when he arrived at the Shanghai airport. Also, officials said it was for a bribery investigation. Based on Chinese law, police can detain suspects for a maximum of 37 days before a prosecutor approves their arrest.
Thus, Son is now formally arrested. Also, the investigation can take up to two months to complete. According to online sports betting sources, it could take up to a year of investigation before he appears in front of a judge.
Midfielder Son Jun-ho Arrested in China
The Chinese Super League has been in operation since 2004. It is the first investigation and arrest of a foreign player in the league. His arrest is part of a broader crackdown on corruption and match-fixing in Chinese soccer, which has seen several senior officials and coaches being probed by the anti-graft watchdog. Attempts by the Korean embassy and the Korea Football Association were reportedly mostly unsuccessful before Son’s arrest.
Four high-ranking football officials, including the president of the Chinese Football Association, Chen Xuyuan, were jailed earlier this year as part of probes into significant discipline violations and the law. Earlier last month, the JoongAng Ilbo reported that Son’s local agent in China had been arrested. Bribery allegations are another reason for his detention.
Son, now 31 years old, has been a team member of Shandong since 2021. It was the year the club won the Chinese Football League title. He has played in 20 international matches for Korea, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann put him on the team for Korea’s ongoing friendly series as a gesture of support.
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