Match-fixing scandal rocking Chinese football revealed.

TPO - Chinese media outlets have simultaneously revealed part of the conclusion regarding the shocking match-fixing scandal in Chinese football. As many as 17 matches were identified as irregularities in Chinese professional football over a six-year period.

Jin Jingdao, a name currently creating a sensation in Chinese media.

According to QQ , 17 problematic matches were identified in the China Super League, China First Division, and China FA Cup from 2016 to 2022. Among them, Shandong Taishan was the black spot on the list, with 4 matches allegedly involving match-fixing.

"The publicly released list has shattered fans' illusions about professional Chinese football. Fans have exclaimed that the matches they once watched were manipulated by entertainment," QQ wrote.

Four problematic matches involving Shandong Taisha have been identified between 2020 and 2022. The first is the 2022 FA Cup final. Former Chinese international Jiao Zhe is accused of doing something to help Shandong Taisha win the tournament. Later, Shandong Taisha's coach invited Jiao Zhe to be his assistant as a way of repaying the favor. "China's key match turned out to be a blatant fix," QQ commented.

Subsequently, in 2021, the group of players including Jing Jingdao, Junhao Sun, and Tianyu Guo were found to have colluded to fix the match between Shandong Taisha and Hebei Zhongji. These players, once the hopes of the Chinese national team, had now become a target of match-fixing scandals.

Jing Jingdao and his assistant Jiao Zhe are accused of receiving money in 2022 to reveal Shandong Taisha's tactical secrets. The pair were also allegedly paid to guarantee victories for Shanghai Port FC.

Chinese football is going through a dark period.

Besides Shandong Taisha, a number of other clubs have been accused of match-fixing. For example, in 2016, Liaoning Hongyun allegedly bribed Jiangsu Suning players to avoid relegation. In 2020, Meizhou Hakka goalkeeper Hou Yu was accused of deliberately playing poorly to cause his team to lose 2-7 to Jiangsu Suning.

The Chinese First Division has also been identified as a black spot for match-fixing. In the 2021/22 season, many players from the clubs colluded with each other in matches between Sichuan Jiuniu, Nantong Zhiyun, and Kunshan FC to fix the scores.

The list also points out several individuals involved in match-fixing. Most notably, Jin Jingdao, a former midfielder for Shandong Taisha, has been identified as a "middleman" involved in match-fixing, manipulating results, and selling team information.

"Who can save Chinese football in this dark moment?" QQ asks.

Chinese news outlets emphasize that the revealed list is not yet official. However, each detail aligns well with past scandals in China. Recently, coach Li Tie accused Shandong Taishan FC of systematic match-fixing, and new information is shedding light on the matter.

Sohu has called match-fixing in Chinese football a serious problem. Match-fixing occurs not only among individual players and officials but has become a systemic issue within the sports industry. To address it thoroughly, the best approach is a strong reform. Chinese fans and media also need to play a supervisory role, working together to strongly expose the dark sides of Chinese football.

Huong Ly