Facing unprecedented and intensified pressure, several "black whistles" - corrupt referees - admitted they have taken bribes in matches during the 2001 Chinese Football League, a senior sports official said yesterday.

"The association welcomes more referees to confess their misconduct, which has seriously hurt the feelings of nearly 400 million fans throughout the country and has damaged the fair play rules and football industry," the association's Executive Vice-Chairman Yan Shiduo said in Beijing.

A special investigative group under the association carried out inquiries concerning nearly 50 referees suspected of misconduct, and several referees have returned money they accepted for bribes, expressing deep regret, Yan said.

Nan Yong, another vice-chairman of the association, said referees who admit their immoral activities will be forgiven, their names will not be made public and they may continue their work as referees.

On the other hand, "black whistles" who refuse to confess will be severely punished or, in the most extreme cases, be sent to court. However, some people vehemently believe referees who violate the law should be punished, rather than forgiven.

This has been a hot topic since scandals erupted last October and December, when the Jili Football Club in Guangzhou and the Lucheng Football Club in Zhejiang admitted to bribing referees during league games.

Legal experts have yet to determine if taking bribes violates existing laws.

The Criminal Law on bribery covers violators who work for government departments, institutions or State-owned enterprises, or employees in private companies. Some experts argue, since referees are neither civil servants nor employees of private enterprises, they cannot be legally charged with the offence. However, they can be punished by the CFA.

The majority of law experts insist referees provide a public service, and, therefore, their actions are punishable according to Criminal Law.

(China Daily January 24, 2002)