Following the many smaller refereeing and match-fixing scandals that have consistently affected Chinese football since the launch of a professional league in 1993, there was strong political pressure to deal with this latest national embarrassment and a national-level joint task force brought together all the required security, judicial and party branches.

BBC: Business

That way, they would not have to come home late from volleyball club or refereeing the under-13s football tournament only to face a mountain of marking and preparation, as they would have got much of it done during the school day.

BBC: Finding time for sport

Bob Schriever, co-founder of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, was refereeing a high school football game seven years ago when he went into cardiac arrest, died and was revived.

CNN: Doctor says near-death experiences are in the mind