The former Chinese national football team coach has made a televised confession in which he admitted to paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to secure the top job, as well as involvement in match-fixing.

In live TV confession, former China football coach admits to paying bribes for job

Chinese football authorities have vowed to crack down on match-fixing after suspicions surrounding several clubs, state media reported on Friday. China wants to become a superpower in the sport but match-fixing and corruption have long plagued its football leagues, with major scandals in the 2000s implicating national team players and senior officials.

Authorities crack down on football clubs in China amid suspicions of match-fixing

Beijing and Shanghai are among 10 Chinese cities that will host the Asian Cup finals in 2023, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Saturday. China's desire to showcase its ability as a future World Cup host got a boost when its football association (CFA) was awarded the rights to host the quadrennial tournament at an extraordinary AFC congress in Paris in June.

Beijing, Shanghai among 10 cities to host 2023 Asian Cup