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Premier League execs "blocked a Chinese takeover of Southampton due to dramatic bribery allegations," according to Dan King of THE SUN. Lander Sports Development CEO Gao Jisheng is "fighting his case and could learn" Thursday whether he can make a £200M ($258M) bid for a stake in the club. The EPL board "barred Gao in February after obtaining evidence he had twice been involved in corruption cases in China," one of which ended with a senior city politician being executed by lethal injection. Gao was "named in Chinese state media as one of a number of businessmen who gave bribes to Xu Maiyong," the vice-mayor of Hangzhou known as "Xu three more" because of his "lust for money, women -- and more women." Gao and Lander launched a legal challenge to the Premier League's decision, "contesting the facts behind the refusal to allow them to proceed." Lawyers for the Chinese consortium were due to meet the Premier League on Thursday morning. It is understood "there are other offers on the table, Lander is not the preferred bidder and that the club is likely to have new investors within a fortnight" (
THE SUN, 4/27).