Korea star denies match-fixing charges

South Korean World Cup player Son Jun-ho became emotional as he denied match-fixing allegations and accused China of blackmail after being banned for life. Son, who played in the Chinese Super League, was detained for 10 months last year and returned to South Korea in March. He claimed that Chinese police threatened his family to force a confession, offering a deal for his release. Son urged for transparency and release of interrogation audio files to prove his innocence. This incident highlights the crackdown on corruption in Chinese sports under President Xi Jinping, affecting Son’s career and national team selection.