Son Jun-ho cleared of bribery charges in China: Reports

Son Jun-ho [YONHAP]

Korean footballer Son Jun-ho was reportedly found innocent of the bribery charges that he was held under in China for 319 days, prompting his release and return to Korea earlier this week.

Korean newspaper Sports Chosun reported Tuesday that Son was found innocent in a closed-door trial that was held during his nearly 10-month detention in China.

Son — who most recently played for Shandong Taishan in the Chinese Super League — was detained on May 12 last year at an airport in Shanghai in what China called a bribery investigation.

Chinese authorities formally arrested Son in June, exactly 37 days after detaining him. Under Chinese law, police can detain suspects for up to 37 days before a prosecutor approves an arrest. Authorities also arrested Son’s agent in China.

The arrest came amid a crackdown on match-fixing in Chinese football but was interpreted as a possible political move aimed at putting pressure on the Korean government. The exact details surrounding Son’s arrest still remain unclear and when, where and how his trial took place has not been publicly disclosed.

With the end of the long detention and his name apparently cleared, Son is now able, if he chooses to, to return to professional football. He is currently without a club and is yet to comment on whether he intends to continue playing.

Prior to playing for Shandong in 2021, Son spent time in the K League, playing for the Pohang Steelers from 2014 to 2017 and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from 2018 through 2020.

He made his first cap in 2018 and last appeared for the national team in a friendly against Uruguay in March last year.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN, JIM BULLEY [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]