South Korean Soccer Star Son Jun-ho Returns Home after Being Detained in China on Suspicion of Accepting Bribes
South Korean soccer star, Son Jun-ho, who was under investigation and detention in China for allegedly accepting bribes, has recently returned to his home country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea made the announcement in a statement on Monday, without disclosing any further details about the release.
The ministry has been actively communicating with the Chinese authorities through various channels to ensure a swift and fair resolution in this matter, according to the statement. Son was detained by the public security authorities in China’s northeastern Liaoning province last May on suspicion of taking bribes as a person who is not a functionary of a state organ.
Son, a midfielder for Shandong Taishan, one of the most successful soccer clubs in the Chinese Super League (CSL), had been a key player for the team that won the 2021 league title and more recently, the 2022 Chinese Football Association Cup. His arrest was a significant development in China’s ongoing efforts to rid its soccer industry of alleged corruption at the highest levels.
Son, who has also represented South Korea’s men’s national team, helped lead the squad to the knockout stages of the World Cup in 2022. He became the first foreign soccer player to be investigated and detained since the Chinese Super League started in 2004, according to China’s state-run Global Times.
The Communist Party’s anti-graft watchdog has been investigating a host of Chinese Football Association figures as part of a broader initiative to clean up the sport. Son’s arrest was a part of this larger crackdown on corruption within Chinese soccer.
Son’s detention and subsequent release mark an important moment in the ongoing efforts to address corruption in Chinese soccer, which has long been plagued by allegations of bribery, match-fixing, and other unethical practices. The resolution of this case may serve as a signal to the international soccer community that China is committed to making significant progress in combating corruption at home and abroad.
The details of Son’s investigation, detention, and release are still emerging, and further information is expected to be released in the coming days. The soccer community and fans around the world will be closely watching this situation as it continues to unfold.
