A file photo of Nan Yong [Photo: sohu.com]

Related: Football Coach Arrested for Match-fixing
               Soccer Players Turn to Betting, Match-fixing after Wages Drop
               Police Detain At Least 4 in Match-fixing Crackdown 
               Factfiles of Suspects Detained for Soccer Match-fixing
               Match-fixing Scheme Comes to Light in Nationwide Crackdown

Police have summoned three high-level officials with the China Football Association (CFA) to help with an investigation into match-fixing and gambling scandals, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced Thursday.

Police in Liaoning province recently summoned Nan Yong and Yang Yimin, both deputy chairmen of the CFA, and Zhang Jianqiang, former director of the association's referee committee, said a statement released by the MPS.

"With the full support from the sports department, the crackdown on manipulating domestic soccer matches through commercial bribery has showcased a firm attitude in fighting corruption and rectifying the soccer sector," said the statement.

This was the third time the ministry has released details of the ongoing nationwide probe into match-fixing and gambling scandals exposed in China's football leagues.

An earlier report in the Beijing Youth Daily says the three CFA officials made their last appearance in their office building six days ago, and they could not be reached on their mobile phones as of Wednesday evening.

An important meeting that had been scheduled for this Monday, which football officials from all over the country had been expected to attend, was also cancelled due to the absence of the three.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Daily reports that former Shanghai Shenhua Football Club coach Jia Xiuqian has also been taken away in connection with the investigation, although a senior executive at Shenhua FC denied any knowledge of Jia's whereabouts as he is no longer under contract with the club.

At the end of last year, the CFA had made it clear that it would continue its crackdown on match fixing and gambling, which Nan Yong had once commented could "kill Chinese football if allowed to remain as rampant as they are now."

The nationwide probe into match-fixing and gambling scandals began in March 2009 when a high-profile committee was set up by 12 ministry-level organs to clean up corruption in Chinese football.

More than 20 football officials, players and club managers have been arrested or detained in the past two months on suspicion of match fixing or gambling.

The suspects were from clubs ranging from the top-flight Super League to the First Division, as well as from local leagues.