BEIJING, China — The former head coach of the Chinese men’s national football team, Li Tie, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for bribery, the state media announced.
Li Tie, who once played in the English Premier League as a midfielder for Everton, is found guilty of abusing his role to engage in corrupt practices.
The charges against Li stemmed from several allegations that he accepted bribes in exchange for specific favors.
These included influencing team selections and assisting clubs in winning competitions. The court concluded that Li received bribes amounting to over 50 million yuan, equivalent to about 6.8 million US dollars, during his tenure as the national team’s head coach from January 2020 to December 2021.
The investigation into Li’s activities began in November 2022. During the probe, authorities uncovered substantial evidence of corrupt practices.
Li admitted to the charges in March of the current year. His confession played a role in the trial proceedings, ultimately leading to the severe sentence handed down by the court.
The former coach began his football career as a player, with a stint in the Premier League, where he played for Everton from 2002 to 2006. His shift to coaching saw him take the helm of the national team. Yet, his promising career took a downturn with the bribery scandal.
