Li Tie Sentenced to 20 Years for Corruption

Li Tie, the former coach of China's national men's soccer team and ex-Everton midfielder, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for accepting bribes totaling over 50 million yuan ($6.8 million) during his tenure from 2019 to 2021. His conviction is part of a broader anti-corruption crackdown in Chinese sports that gained momentum after the national team's poor performance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Li was found guilty of using his position to select players for the national team in exchange for favors and facilitating match-fixing during his club coaching years. He also reportedly offered bribes of approximately 3 million yuan ($412,800) to secure his coaching role. This case highlights the deep-rooted corruption issues in Chinese football, which have been under investigation since the government's intensified focus on graft in sports. Li's downfall follows a series of high-profile convictions in the sports sector, including other officials implicated in similar activities.