Former English Premier League soccer player receives 20-year imprisonment in China over bribery and match manipulation charges.
In a shocking turn of events, Li Tie, a former Everton player and coach of China's national soccer team, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on December 13, 2024, for bribery and match fixing. This sentence follows a two-year investigation that uncovered widespread corruption in Chinese soccer.
Li Tie, one of five Chinese nationals to have appeared in the English Premier League, played regularly in a first team during his time with Everton. He was part of an Everton side that finished seventh in the 2002-03 season. At international level, Li Tie made 92 appearances for the China national team, scoring six goals.
However, Li's career took a dramatic turn when he was accused of fixing games for the two clubs he coached in Chinese leagues between 2015 and 2019. He was also accused of offering a bribe to gain the job as national team coach. In exchange for the bribes, Li selected certain players for the China squad and helped certain teams to win competitions.
In January 2023, Li was featured in a documentary on Chinese state television about corruption in domestic soccer. This was before Marlon Brum, who would later receive a long prison sentence for bribery and match-fixing, was convicted. Chen Xuyuan, the former head of China's official soccer association, was sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes in March 2023.
The suspensions and convictions followed a period of significant investment in Chinese soccer. Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to turn China into a soccer superpower in 2015. Billions have been poured into the sport, but the national team has regressed since then. Currently, the Chinese national team sits bottom of its World Cup qualifying group.
The move came a week after China's national team suffered a 7-0 loss to Japan, one of its biggest sporting and geopolitical rivals. Widespread corruption, including the alleged sale of international caps to the highest bidder, is blamed for holding back Chinese soccer.
Despite the setbacks, the Chinese Football Association has vowed to continue its fight against corruption and to work towards building a fair and transparent soccer system. The hope is that, in the future, China can live up to President Xi's vision of becoming a soccer powerhouse.
Read also:
- Impact of Alcohol on the Human Body: Nine Aspects of Health Alteration Due to Alcohol Consumption
- Understanding the Concept of Obesity
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Tough choices on August 13, 2025 for those born under Aquarius? Consider the advantages and disadvantages to gain guidance
