The Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced on Tuesday that 43 individuals have been banned for life from participating in football-related activities for gambling and match-fixing.

Among those banned for life are former Chinese internationals Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu and Gu Chao, as well as South Korean player Son Jun-ho.

At a press conference in Dalian, Zhang Xiaopeng, a senior official from the Ministry of Public Security, revealed details of a two-year investigation that uncovered a series of online gambling, match-fixing and bribery cases.

“The Ministry of Public Security reported the details of the first batch of 61 people involved in the cases to the General Administration of Sport of China and the CFA,” Zhang said.

He added that 44 individuals face criminal penalties for bribery, gambling and the illegal opening of casinos, while 17 others were found to have engaged in bribery and match-fixing and will be punished with according to regulations

CFA president Song Kai confirmed that 43 of the 44 facing criminal penalties have been banned for life from football-related activities, and 17 others have received five-year bans. (Xinhua)