In a significant case marking the reach of President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption efforts, Li Tie, the ex-head coach of the Chinese national football team, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in a vast bribery scheme. The 47-year-old, who previously played for Everton in the English Premier League, pleaded guilty earlier this year to multiple charges, including fixing matches, accepting bribes, and offering bribes to secure his top coaching position.
China's Ex-Football Coach Sentenced to 20 Years for Bribery
China's Ex-Football Coach Sentenced to 20 Years for Bribery
Li Tie, former head coach of China’s national football team, faces justice after his convicted involvement in match-fixing and bribery.
Li's downfall is part of a broader anti-corruption crackdown that has swept through various sectors in China, including sports, banking, and the military. This week alone, state media reported that three former officials from the Chinese Football Association (CFA) were also handed jail sentences for their roles in corruption, leading to investigations of over a dozen coaches and players.
According to the court, Li's bribery offenses took place between 2015 and 2021, starting from his tenure as an assistant coach at the Hebei China Fortune Club, escalating to his role as the head national coach from January 2020 until December 2021. Li admitted to taking over $16 million in bribes in exchange for selecting specific players for the national team and manipulating outcomes to benefit certain football clubs.
Earlier this year, Li appeared in an anti-corruption documentary on CCTV, where he publicly expressed remorse for his actions, stating, "I'm very sorry. I should have kept my head to the ground and followed the right path." He added that some of these activities were considered "common practices" within the sport at the time.
Li Tie, who earned 92 caps for China and participated in the 2002 World Cup—the only time China has qualified for the tournament—joins a series of high-profile cases as the country's football landscape faces scrutiny. The former CFA president, Chen Xuyuan, was sentenced to life in prison for accepting $11 million in bribes, highlighting the depth of corruption within the organization.
President Xi has long aimed to elevate China into a significant football nation. Dates as far back as 2011 showcase his aspirations, where he laid out goals of qualifying for future World Cups and even hosting the event. However, the ongoing corruption cases involving pivotal figures within China's football hierarchy have raised great concerns for the nation’s footballing future.
This current anti-graft campaign resembles earlier efforts in 2010, which also targeted corruption in Chinese football, resulting in jail sentences for several players, officials, and referees involved in unethical activities at the time. Rowan Simons, author of "Bamboo Goalposts," commented that while there seems to be a repetition of the past, the financial stakes today are considerably higher. As China attempts to clear its football image and regain focus, the road to reform remains steep amidst the ramifications of corruption.
According to the court, Li's bribery offenses took place between 2015 and 2021, starting from his tenure as an assistant coach at the Hebei China Fortune Club, escalating to his role as the head national coach from January 2020 until December 2021. Li admitted to taking over $16 million in bribes in exchange for selecting specific players for the national team and manipulating outcomes to benefit certain football clubs.
Earlier this year, Li appeared in an anti-corruption documentary on CCTV, where he publicly expressed remorse for his actions, stating, "I'm very sorry. I should have kept my head to the ground and followed the right path." He added that some of these activities were considered "common practices" within the sport at the time.
Li Tie, who earned 92 caps for China and participated in the 2002 World Cup—the only time China has qualified for the tournament—joins a series of high-profile cases as the country's football landscape faces scrutiny. The former CFA president, Chen Xuyuan, was sentenced to life in prison for accepting $11 million in bribes, highlighting the depth of corruption within the organization.
President Xi has long aimed to elevate China into a significant football nation. Dates as far back as 2011 showcase his aspirations, where he laid out goals of qualifying for future World Cups and even hosting the event. However, the ongoing corruption cases involving pivotal figures within China's football hierarchy have raised great concerns for the nation’s footballing future.
This current anti-graft campaign resembles earlier efforts in 2010, which also targeted corruption in Chinese football, resulting in jail sentences for several players, officials, and referees involved in unethical activities at the time. Rowan Simons, author of "Bamboo Goalposts," commented that while there seems to be a repetition of the past, the financial stakes today are considerably higher. As China attempts to clear its football image and regain focus, the road to reform remains steep amidst the ramifications of corruption.
