In a significant corruption case that highlights President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption crackdown, former Chinese national football coach Li Tie has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for bribery and match-fixing. Li, who confessed to accepting over $16 million in bribes during his coaching tenure, admitted to offering bribes to secure his coaching position and manipulate team selections. His sentencing follows similar convictions of several former officials from the Chinese Football Association (CFA) amid a broader anti-graft campaign within the sports sector. Li, a former player for Everton and the Chinese national team, expressed remorse for his actions in an anti-corruption documentary earlier this year. The crackdown, reminiscent of a similar effort in 2010, poses a setback for Xi's ambition to elevate China's status in global football.
Ex-Coach of Chinese Football Team Sentenced to 20 Years for Bribery
Ex-Coach of Chinese Football Team Sentenced to 20 Years for Bribery
Li Tie, former head coach of the Chinese national football team, has received a 20-year prison sentence for his involvement in bribery and match-fixing.
Li Tie, the former head coach of the Chinese national men's football team, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of bribery and match-fixing. This ruling, reported by state media, is a part of a wider anti-corruption campaign initiated by President Xi Jinping that has swept through various sectors, including sports. Li confessed to having accepted bribes exceeding $16 million while coaching from January 2020 to December 2021, during which he admitted to influencing team selections and game outcomes in exchange for monetary compensation. His case is not isolated; the recent sentencing of three other CFA officials illustrates the extensive nature of the investigation, which has seen numerous coaches and players come under scrutiny. In a public apology aired earlier this year, Li expressed regret and recognized the corrupt practices that became pervasive in the sport. The push against corruption reflects significant but troubling challenges to Xi's aspirations for Chinese football, a vision that has already faced setbacks due to the recent scandal, mirroring earlier crackdowns from a decade ago.
