Chinese Officials Clear Athlete Donovan Ewolo of Any Wrongdoing
Informal, Original Version
Donovan Ewolo, a soccer striker hailing from Cameroon, found himself in hot water in China. Accused of match-fixing, Ewolo was one of 76 people kicked out of the Chinese soccer scene in September. But, this Cameroonian cat transformed into an innocent kitten in the eyes of the law the very next day!
The Patch-Up
On September 11, Ewolo's name joined the long list of soccer stars swept up in a massive match-fixing probe. Whispers in the wind hinted that many players have been cozying up to gambling and rigging games for extra cash.
Ewolo had been mixing it up in the Chinese Super League and China League One for quite some time. His ban? An allegation pinned on him for shaking hands with shady business in his days with Heilongjiang Ice City between 2020 and 2021.
While Ewolo swore he had never dabbled in gambling, he did confess to a sneaky side hustle. Seems he bagged a cool 50,000 yuan bonus from his team captain following a win over Chengdu Rongcheng. On another occasion, he pocketed a sack containing 20,000 yuan.
Ewolo claimed the dough was dropped on him when Heilongjiang Ice City hadn't paid its players for months. His team captain, Li Shuai, had promised that victories would bring hefty bonuses. Ewolo didn't bat an eye at Li handing him the cash, considering them pals at the time.
Picked Up and Released
A five-year ban from competing professionally in China hit Ewolo right where it hurt. Yet, Ewolo advocated zealously for his innocence, insisting he hadn't rigged any matches and was clueless about gambling in China.
As a foreigner, Ewolo couldn't read Chinese and knew his online transactions would be under scrutiny. After a grilling session of over two hours with the fuzz, the authorities found no grounds to arrest him. Ewolo waved goodbye to China soon afterward.
Donovan Ewolo moved on to the Saudi First Division League club Al-Adalah post-Heilongjiang Ice City. The unpaid salary debacle forced Ewolo to skedaddle from Heilongjiang Ice City in 2021.
Enrichment Data Stash- Match-fixing in Chinese football leagues has been a thorny issue, resulting in multiple investigations and bans over the years.- Players, coaches, and officials who get caught can face penalties such as lifetime bans, fines, and criminal charges.
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- The policy-and-legislation surrounding match-fixing in Chinese soccer leagues has been stringent, resulting in numerous investigations and bans over the years.
- Donovan Ewolo, a soccer striker from Cameroon, found himself embroiled in a match-fixing scandal in China, one of 76 individuals sweepingly banned in September.
- Politics and general-news outlets have been buzzing with discussions about the match-fixing probe in Chinese football, with whispers of gambling and game-rigging involving several players.
- Ewolo played for Heilongjiang Ice City in both the Chinese Super League and China League One, and was accused of shaking hands with shady business dealings during his tenure from 2020 to 2021.
- Sports-analysis outlets have been dissecting Ewolo's case, as he swore he had never gambled but did confess to receiving undisclosed bonuses from his team captain, Li Shuai, following wins.
- Worries over sports-betting might have sparked the match-fixing investigation, especially when Ewolo admitted receiving cash payments during lean periods at Heilongjiang Ice City, which coincided with Li Shuai's promise of hefty bonuses for victories.
- Aside from soccer, the world of sports has been keeping an eye on Donovan Ewolo, with mixed-martial-arts enthusiasts seeking clarification on whether the Cameroonian will face a permanent ban and foray into other competitions ranging from basketball to racing and tennis.
