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China tries to tackle rampant football graft
Beijing tries to clean up sport tarnished by bribes and gambling.
Last Modified: 11 Jul 2012 13:29

Large amounts of money and a lack of oversight have tarnished football's reputation in China, with consistent reports of bribery, macth fixing and illegal betting.

Its reputation was so bad that at one point it was called "fake-ball" by many of its fans.

To clean up the sport, the Chinese government prosecuted a large number of high-profile personalities over corruption.

Several weeks ago, two former football league chiefs, a national team captain, and four players from the only squad to ever make it to the World Cup finals, were all jailed for 10 years.

China is also bringing in big-time international players in an attempt to restore confidence in the local leagues.

Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports from Hong Kong.

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Al Jazeera
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