More must be done to end corruption in China’s sports sector
- The banning last week of 10 snooker players from China for match fixing and illicit betting, in the biggest scandal to hit the sport, is more than a major setback. It is a disgrace
Snooker has enjoyed a surge in popularity in China in recent years with many millions taking up the sport. Talented young Chinese players capable of reaching the highest levels have emerged.
The banning last week of 10 players from China for match fixing and illicit betting, in the biggest scandal to hit the sport, is more than a major setback. It is a disgrace.
An investigation was launched after suspicious betting patterns were identified. A disciplinary hearing was then held in London. It led to the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) imposing bans on the players involved, for breaching regulations.
The two most serious offenders Liang Wenbo and Li Hang have been kicked out of the sport for life. They were found to have been the ringleaders of the operation which mostly targeted matches in Britain last year. They were responsible for putting pressure on younger players to take part.
Chinese snooker bosses vow betting crackdown after match-fixing scandal
Jason Ferguson, chairman of the WPBSA, rightly described their conduct as “wholly unacceptable” and said it was heartbreaking to see talented young players corrupted.
China’s snooker fans will be especially disappointed to see Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong among the players banned. Both young players have been tipped as potential world champions.
Yan won the Masters tournament in 2021 with Zhao taking the UK Championship the same year. Now, they face a long period out of the game. Yan was banned for five years.
Zhao, the only player not directly involved in match fixing, was suspended for 20 months. Zhao, who placed bets for his friend Yan, has apologised, regretting his ignorance, and “silliness”.
China’s Billiards and Snooker Association said it has a “zero-tolerance attitude” to match-fixing and betting. It intends to step-up education and adopt other measures, while improving management of Chinese players in the UK, where many are based.
The inquiry revealed Chinese players had struggled to adapt to life in the UK, suffering loneliness and relying heavily on each other both socially and financially, especially during the pandemic. This had contributed to young players being susceptible to the influence of their older counterparts.
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Lessons must be learned. Young players need support. They must also know that involvement in such reprehensible conduct can ruin their reputations and careers.
More needs to be done, meanwhile, to stamp out corruption in China’s sports sector. The snooker scandal coincides with the biggest corruption probe into football on the mainland in a decade. A match fixing inquiry, meanwhile, saw the removal of two basketball teams from the league in April.
China’s snooker players will, hopefully, recover from the scandal. Not all of the country’s stars were involved. Much can be achieved, so long as players stay well clear of corruption.
