China fights football corruption

By Dan Griffiths
BBC News, Beijing

Chinese football fans are more interested in the international game

The authorities in China have launched a campaign to root out corruption in the country's professional soccer leagues.

Match fixing and bribery have become a major problem in Chinese football.

The government says it will focus on closing down gambling rings and online gaming sites and there will be tough penalties for match fixing and bribery.

The beautiful game in China has never been that pretty. Scandals involving players and referees are common.

This is especially the case in China's top soccer competition - the Super League.

That has put off many fans and sponsors, leading to poor attendances and several clubs going out of business.

But this clampdown may come too late to help revive the fortunes of the domestic game.

Most football fans here are now more interested in overseas matches, especially the English Premiership.