Li Tie, who previously served as the coach for China’s national men’s soccer team, has received a 20-year prison sentence following his admission to various bribery offenses. State media reports that Li admitted to taking bribes, making payments to obtain his coaching role, and influencing match outcomes throughout his career. This situation represents yet another important example of corruption exposed in China’s relentless anti-corruption drive, which has reached a wide range of fields, such as sports, finance, and the armed forces.
In March, Li, who once played in the Premier League for Everton, admitted to accepting more than $16 million in bribes. It is said that these actions commenced in 2015, during his tenure as an assistant coach at the Hebei China Fortune Club, and persisted until he stepped down as head coach of the national team in 2021. In return for the illegal payments, Li is accused of affecting team lineups and assisting football clubs in achieving wins.
Li, a former Premier League player for Everton, pleaded guilty in March to taking over $16 million in bribes. These activities reportedly began in 2015, when Li served as an assistant coach at the Hebei China Fortune Club, and continued until his resignation as head coach of the national team in 2021. In exchange for the illicit payments, Li allegedly influenced team selections and aided football clubs in securing victories.
The sentencing of Li brings attention to a system entrenched in corrupt practices, with numerous prominent individuals in Chinese football under investigation as well. Earlier this week, three ex-officials from the Chinese Football Association (CFA) were found guilty on related charges. Altogether, over twelve coaches and players have been investigated as part of the extensive anti-corruption measures.
Li’s sentencing highlights a system plagued by corrupt practices, with several high-profile figures within Chinese football also facing scrutiny. Earlier this week, three former officials from the Chinese Football Association (CFA) were convicted on similar charges. In total, more than a dozen coaches and players have been investigated as part of the sweeping anti-corruption efforts.
Li’s ex-boss, Chen Xuyuan, who was once the president of the CFA, received a life sentence earlier in 2024. Chen was found guilty of taking bribes amounting to $11 million. His case, along with Li’s, illustrates the extent of corruption among senior officials responsible for managing the progress of football in China.
La represión contra la corrupción en el fútbol recuerda una campaña similar en 2010, durante la cual varios funcionarios, jugadores y árbitros fueron encarcelados por arreglo de partidos y sobornos. Xi Jinping, entonces vicepresidente, lideró también ese esfuerzo. Sin embargo, a pesar de la campaña, la corrupción ha persistido, y los observadores describen la actual iniciativa como una repetición de intentos anteriores, aunque involucrando cantidades de dinero más grandes.
Rowan Simons, a football analyst and the author of Bamboo Goalposts
, provided an analysis of the hurdles confronting Chinese football. In a conversation with the BBC earlier this year, he commented, “This campaign closely mirrors the events of ten years ago, just involving different people and on a significantly larger financial scale.” Simons believes that inherent problems within the sport have enabled corruption to thrive despite prior attempts to tackle it.
La carrera futbolística de Li Tie comenzó de manera prometedora, ya que el excentrocampista jugó 92 partidos para China y participó en la única aparición del país en la Copa del Mundo en 2002. Su paso a la dirección técnica inicialmente aparentaba ser exitoso, llevando a su nombramiento como entrenador del equipo nacional en 2020. Sin embargo, su mandato terminó envuelto en controversia al renunciar en 2021 en medio de crecientes acusaciones de mala conducta.
The corruption scandals have marred Xi Jinping’s aspiration to elevate Chinese football to an international standing. Xi had notably articulated his “three wishes” for the sport in 2011: for China to qualify for another World Cup, to one day host the event, and ultimately to secure the championship. Despite considerable investment in football facilities and development programs, these goals have been compromised by ongoing scandals and poor management within the sport.
El impacto de las recientes condenas va más allá de los castigos individuales, planteando cuestiones más amplias sobre la gobernanza del fútbol chino. Los arrestos y sentencias de figuras como Li Tie y Chen Xuyuan destacan los desafíos de erradicar la corrupción en un sistema donde ha estado profundamente arraigada durante años. Los críticos señalan que, aunque las campañas aborden casos específicos de mala conducta, no logran enfrentar las estructuras subyacentes que permiten que la corrupción continúe.
Las repercusiones de los escándalos de corrupción también se están sintiendo a nivel de base, donde los esfuerzos por promover el fútbol entre las generaciones más jóvenes han sido eclipsados por titulares negativos. Los intentos de China por cultivar una nueva generación de futbolistas talentosos han sido obstaculizados por la percepción de deshonestidad sistémica dentro del deporte. Para muchos jugadores aspirantes y sus familias, los escándalos sirven como un claro recordatorio de los obstáculos que enfrentan quienes esperan triunfar en el fútbol chino.
The repercussions of the corruption scandals are also being felt at the grassroots level, where efforts to promote football among younger generations have been overshadowed by negative headlines. China’s attempts to cultivate a new generation of talented footballers have been hampered by the perception of systemic dishonesty within the sport. For many aspiring players and their families, the scandals serve as a stark reminder of the obstacles facing those who hope to succeed in Chinese football.
The broader anti-corruption campaign, which extends far beyond football, has targeted high-profile figures across various industries. Xi Jinping’s government has framed these efforts as essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring the integrity of Chinese institutions. However, critics have questioned whether the campaigns are as much about consolidating political power as they are about addressing corruption.
As Li Tie begins his 20-year prison sentence, the focus shifts to whether the recent crackdown will lead to meaningful reform within Chinese football. Observers remain skeptical, noting that similar campaigns in the past have failed to produce lasting change. For now, the sentencing of Li and other officials symbolizes both the scale of the problem and the difficulty of eradicating corruption in a sport that has long been synonymous with national aspirations and systemic challenges.
