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FIFA gives global bans to 58 caught in Chinese match-fixing cases

The Associated Press Published Monday, February 25, 2013 12:30PM EST

USA players argue as referee Lu Jun of China, who was handed a life ban from FIFA, calls back a goal scored by Donovan during their 2002 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Daejeon World Cup stadium in Daejeon, South Korea, Friday June 14, 2002. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

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ZURICH, Switzerland -- FIFA has given worldwide bans to 58 football players and officials found guilty in Chinese match-fixing cases.

FIFA says it expelled 33 people from world football for life and 25 others will serve five-year bans for involvement in "domestic match-fixing and bribery."

All those banned were previously sanctioned by the Chinese Football Association.

Life bans were imposed on referee Lu Jun, who officiated two 2002 World Cup group-stage matches, and four former Chinese internationals: Shen Si, Qi Hong, Jiang Jin and Li Ming.

FIFA says the sanctions follow investigations and trials conducted by law enforcement and football authorities from 2010-12.

FIFA says the fixed matches were played "in the 1990s and early 2000s."