China
Chinese soccer league to begin on March 20
By Hou Lei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-01-30 16:32
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The Chinese Super League (CSL), the highest tier professional soccer league in China, will start on March 20 despite the ongoing massive match-fixing probe, Xinhunet reported Friday.
"All preparation for the CSL is going smoothly and the opening ceremony will be held on March 20," said Ma Chengquan, a senior official of the Chinese Football Association (CFA).
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The CSL operates under the auspices of CFA, the governing body of soccer in China.
Top two leaders of the CFA, Nan Yong and Yang Yimin, together with another senior soccer official Zhang Jianqiang, were detained for a corruption investigation earlier this week.
A number of player, coaches and managers of soccer clubs have been arrested or are being probed for involvement in gambling and match-fixing since last October.
There is speculation about whether the CSL will be suspended this year due to the massive crackdown on soccer corruption.
Ma said the probe will not affect the CSL, which will involve 16 teams this year, the same as 2009, the report said.
Two clubs of CSL, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical FC and Chengdu Sheffield United FC, might be kicked out of the super league because investigations show they offered opponents bribes to throw matches.
Ma said the punishment for the two clubs has not been decided but the number of teams in the league will not change.
