China has banned a South Korean footballer and a former national team player from the sport for life for gambling and match-fixing, as the game on the mainland once again finds itself embroiled in another corruption scandal.
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Former Chinese international Jin Jingdao, Guo Tianyu and Gu Chao, as well as South Korean player Son Jun-ho were among the 44 players handed lifetime bans.
Eighteen others, including former player Baqjyan Hurman, were banned from the sport for five years.
Shen Liuxi, who was banned for life in 2013 for his involvement in the 2003–2009 Chinese football match-fixing scandals, was also involved in the crack down and “punished for the crime of opening a casino”.