Chinese police will join sports authorities in a nationwide fight against soccer gambling which has beleaguered the country's professional league.

In a recent joint circular issued by the Ministry of Public Security and State General Administration of Sport, local police and sports officials are ordered to clamp down on various sports gambling activities, including online betting.

"We should target those organizers, gamble bankers, and people who induce others to bet, to discipline them with severe and ruthless punishments," the circular said.

The campaign will focus on such activities as setting up gambling booths, inducing people to bet, fixing matches, and organizing on-line soccer gambling.

Police and sports officials are asked to enhance Internet surveillance to root out any soccer gambling websites and cut off gambling chains.

They are urged not to show any leniency towards overseas gambling bodies, if they set up underground booths or offices in China.

Severe punishment will be also handed to those people who mastermind match fixings, using threats or bribes, and insiders of the soccer circle who participate in gambling.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2006)