Former Chinese soccer star and national men’s team coach, Li Tie, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for corruption, state media reported on Friday. The 47-year-old, who once played for English Premier League club Everton alongside Wayne Rooney, is the highest-profile figure caught in a sweeping anti-graft crackdown on China’s professional soccer league.
Corruption in the Shadow of Xi’s Soccer Vision
Despite Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s ambition to transform the nation into a “world soccer superpower,” the sport in China has been plagued by mismanagement, corruption, and underperformance. Following China’s men’s national team’s dismal elimination in the preliminary stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, authorities launched a widespread investigation into bribery and match-fixing in the country’s professional leagues.
Li Tie’s Fall from Grace
Li, once celebrated as one of China’s finest soccer talents, became the first prominent figure implicated in the probe. In March, former Chinese Football Association president Chen Xuyuan was handed a life sentence for corruption. On Friday, Li was convicted in Wuhan for multiple counts of bribery.
Prosecutors revealed that Li accepted bribes totaling over 50 million yuan ($6.8 million) during his tenure as head coach of China’s national team from 2019 to 2021. Allegations included taking bribes to select certain players and rigging matches to benefit specific clubs. Li also reportedly paid bribes totaling 3 million yuan (US$412,800) to secure his coaching role.
Confessions of a Fallen Star
In a January documentary aired before his trial, Li expressed regret for his actions. “When I was a player, I despised match-fixing the most,” he confessed. However, after becoming a coach, he admitted succumbing to the allure of quick success, saying, “It became a habit, and eventually, I even started to rely on it.”
A Shattered Legacy
Li’s sentencing is particularly tragic given his celebrated career. In 2002, he became one of the first Chinese players to compete in the English Premier League, representing Everton and sharing the field with stars like Wayne Rooney and Joseph Yobo. That same year, he represented China in its only appearance at the FIFA World Cup.
After returning to China in 2008 following a stint with Sheffield United, Li transitioned to coaching, earning hopes that he could guide China back to the World Cup. However, his coaching tenure ended in controversy and criticism after the team’s poor performance in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
A Warning to Chinese Soccer
Li Tie’s downfall marks a significant moment in China’s battle to reform its soccer system. While his conviction underscores the government’s resolve to root out corruption, it also serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges facing Chinese soccer as it strives for international success.
