10 South Koreans receive lifetime bans for match fixing

10 South Koreans receive lifetime bans for match fixing

2011-06-18 07:34:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (BNO NEWS) -- South Korea's Professional Football League (K-League) on Friday issued lifetime bans for ten players who were recently indicted for match fixing and giving bribes.

The K-League said that 10 of the 11 players indicted in the case will be permanently prohibited from playing and being directly related with any Korean professional football team. The bans are the toughest ever imposed on K-League players.

On top of that, if found guilty of match fixing and giving bribes, those indicted may face up to seven years in prison and/or could be ordered to pay a maximum fine of 70 million won ($64,500). Those guilty of receiving bribes may also receive another five years in prison or be fined up to 50 million won ($46,000).

The scandal began last month when Changwon District prosecutors arrested three players from the Daejeon Citizen team. They were accused of fixing the results for the league cup game against Pohang Steelers in April, which Daejeon lost 3-0.

Then two other players, a midfielder from Daejeon and a Gwangju FC goalkeeper, were arrested. Four more athletes were booked but not detained, while one retired player admitted his involvement in a suicide note.

Jeong Jong-kwan, former K-League star, was found dead in an apparent suicide after he was linked to the other suspects. He left behind a note in which he allegedly admitted his role in the match fixing schemes.

The eleventh player involved in the case received a five-year ban. In addition, the Daejeon team will lose 30 percent of its annual share from Sports Toto while Guangzhou will lose 10 percent of its share with same sports lottery business.

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