Chinese police will join sports authorities in a nationwide
fight against soccer gambling which has beleaguered the country's
professional league.
In a recent joint circular issued by the Ministry of Public
Security and State General Administration of Sport, local police
and sports officials are ordered to clamp down on various sports
gambling activities, including online betting.
"We should target those organizers, gamble bankers, and people
who induce others to bet, to discipline them with severe and
ruthless punishments," the circular said.
The campaign will focus on such activities as setting up
gambling booths, inducing people to bet, fixing matches, and
organizing on-line soccer gambling.
Police and sports officials are asked to enhance Internet
surveillance to root out any soccer gambling websites and cut off
gambling chains.
They are urged not to show any leniency towards overseas
gambling bodies, if they set up underground booths or offices in
China.
Severe punishment will be also handed to those people who
mastermind match fixings, using threats or bribes, and insiders of
the soccer circle who participate in gambling.
(Xinhua News Agency?April 12, 2006)