ZURICH (AP) ― FIFA has extended the match-fixing sanctions on 41 players in South Korea to worldwide lifetime bans.
The scandal goes back to 2011 when more than 50 players and coaches in the K-League were indicted for accepting money to fix matches.
Forty-one players received life bans from the K-League and the Korea Football Association.
FIFA said Wednesday that its disciplinary committee extended the sanctions so they take effect worldwide.
However, FIFA said it would offer 21 players who admitted involvement in the scandal a chance to return to soccer.
Jong Tae-se poses with his new jersey on Thursday.(Yonhap News)
Those players must go through a probation period of between two and five years, including community service ranging from 200 to 500 hours. Reinstatement after the probation would be up to the Korea Football Association.
Jong Tae-se finalizes transfer to South Korea
North Korean striker Jong Tae-se has finalized his move to South Korea, having signed a three-year deal with a first-division club here, officials said Thursday.
Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the top-flight K League Classic announced that Jong has inked a three-year contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed, though sources have said his annual salary is around 300 million won ($282,900).
According to Suwon, Jong will wear No. 14. It’s the same number that Seo Jung-won, the current Suwon head coach, had during his All-Star playing career.
Jong, 28, left 1. FC Koln in the second-division German league to become the fourth North Korean to play pro soccer in South Korea.
He arrived here on Tuesday and went through medical tests before finalizing his transfer. Suwon shelled out 300,000 euros for the transfer fee. After landing in South Korea Tuesday, Jong said his goal was to score 15 goals and help Suwon win the championship. (Yonhap News)
