Suwon FC, which took the risk, is now responsible for the choice.
Suwon FC, a civic club, has yet to avoid criticism that it paid a large annual salary with taxpayers’ money to a player whose allegations of participation in match fixing have not been completely resolved.
Suwon FC said in a statement under the name of its general manager Choi Soon-ho on Wednesday that it terminated Son’s contract. The decision was made a day before the K League 1 home game against Jeonbuk Hyundai on Wednesday. Son, who returned to the K League after signing a contract with Suwon FC in June, has become a free agent again in three months.
“While we judged that we could no longer cause confusion outside the game to our team and fans who have been running hard for a season, the club decided to accept the request to terminate the contract at the request of Son Joon-ho, who considered the club, fellow players and fans,” Choi said, explaining that Son Joon-ho first asked to terminate the contract.
Son Joon-ho’s contract termination was one of the expected scenarios after the Chinese Football Association’s disciplinary announcement on the 10th and Son’s press conference on the 11th.
In a statement released on the 10th, the Chinese Football Association issued Son Jun-ho’s permanent expulsion from the Chinese soccer community, saying that Son Jun-ho participated in unjustified transactions to promote unjust interests, manipulated soccer games and gained illegal profits.
In addition, the Chinese Football Association shared the information with FIFA, threatening to expand the scope of punishment Son will receive not only in China but also around the world. The Korean Football Association is also known to have received an official letter containing relevant information from the Chinese Football Association.
Amid a major crisis in Son Joon-ho’s soccer life, who also played for the Korean national soccer team, Son Joon-ho held a press conference on the 11th to resolve the injustice. Son Joon-ho, who had been tight-lipped, confessed to what happened last year at the press conference.
Son, who was about to return to Korea via Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai in May last year, was detained in criminal custody after being arrested by Chinese police and questioned by the Chaoyang Public Security Bureau in Liaoning Province under the pretext of accepting non-state workers. Son said, “In the process, I made a false confession to escape from illegal detention and coercive investigation by Chinese police, and later reversed my statement with the help of a lawyer.”
Son Joon-ho claimed that he did not engage in illegal monetary transactions in connection with match-fixing, but said he was convicted of receiving money and valuables. He also said he did not know exactly why 200,000 yuan (about 37.65 million won) was deposited in Son Joon-ho’s account a few days after the match between Shandong and Shanghai, 스포츠토토 which Chinese police pointed out as a match-fixing match.
Son Joon-ho said, “We exchanged gifts with Jin Jing-dao (Korean name Kim Kyung-do), a Korean-Chinese soccer player who deposited 200,000 yuan to him,” shaking his head that the money he received from Jin Jing-dao was not a return related to match fixing. Son Jun-ho thought that it could be an expression of gratitude from Jin Jing-dao because he has been close to Jin Jing-dao, taking care of his family members.
Throughout the press conference, Son’s side failed to provide clear evidence that would clear Son. He even rejected the Chinese court’s request to present a verdict that could prove his innocence.
As if to be aware of the details of Son’s press conference, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a regular briefing on Wednesday, “He admitted his guilt and accepted the punishment, and said he would not appeal while repenting in court. China is a country under the rule of law. Law enforcement agencies handle cases by law and fully guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of the parties concerned.”
Suwon FC tried to wait for FIFA’s decision to expand Son Joon-ho’s disciplinary scope from the Chinese Football Association, but after the press conference, sympathy for Son Joon-ho turned negative and decided to terminate the contract.