Chinese referee jailed for bribery

Corrupt refereeing has led to rioting in China

One of China's top football referees has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for accepting bribes.

Gong Jianping was sentenced by a Beijing court, after being convicted of taking bribes totalling 370,000 yuan (US$45,000), Chinese media said.

Gong's sentence was considered lenient because he had admitted the charge, according to Chinese television.

At the end of 2001 China was engulfed in a "black whistle" scandal related to the widespread bribing of referees.

Gong was arrested in April last year. Then chief referee for the Chinese Football Association, he accepted money and goods nine times from 2000 to 2001, China Central Television said.

Widespread corruption

China's prosecutors intervened in the case after criticisms that the Chinese football authorities had failed to take decisive action.

The case enraged fans, and overshadowed China's success in qualifying for its first World Cup finals last year.

Frustration over corruption in China's football scene spilled over into violence last March, when hundreds of spectators rioted in the northern city of Xian after the referee awarded a late penalty to the visiting team.

Fans reportedly shouted "Black whistle!" as they pelted players and police with plastic bottles, lighters and other missiles.