China’s football chiefs ridiculed after Fifa vetoes its ‘global’ ban on South Korea’s Son

Fans label Chinese FA ‘a joke’ after its request that Son Jun-ho’s life ban for alleged role in match-fixing be extended worldwide

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South Korea’s Son Jun-ho can play football outside China after Fifa declined to endorse a global ban. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:05pm, 28 Jan 2025Updated: 3:35pm, 28 Jan 2025

Chinese football bosses have been labelled a joke after Fifa refused to give worldwide recognition to the “global” life ban they slapped on South Korean footballer Son Jun-ho for his alleged role in a match-fixing scandal.

The decision not to enforce the ban outside China, leaving the 32-year-old free to restart his career, has been met with derision on mainland Chinese social media platforms.

Son was held for 10 months when attempting to leave the country in May 2023, with Beijing claiming his detention was “on suspicion of accepting bribes by non-state employees”, without providing further details.

In a statement, the Korean Football Association said it had received “an official document from Fifa telling it the request by the CFA to expand Son Jun-ho’s disciplinary action worldwide had been rejected”.

“Since the request to expand the disciplinary action internationally has been rejected, the disciplinary action in question will only be effective in China for the time being. Accordingly, Son Jun-ho can now register for not only domestic K-League teams but also overseas leagues excluding the Chinese league.”

Son Jun-ho played for CSL side Shandong Taishan before he was detained for 10 months. Photo: Getty Images

In November, a director at Son’s former club in South Korea, Suwon FC, claimed the Chinese Football Association (CFA) was “unstable”, adding he believed the ban was only applicable in China because Fifa was reviewing whether it should be “global”.