Former Everton midfielder Li Tie has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. The 47-year-old, who was a key player for China during their sole World Cup appearance in 2002, confessed to accepting over £12 million in bribes and fixing matches between 2015 and 2021.
Li's downfall marks a dramatic turn in his career, which began with promise in his native China before he moved to the English Premier League.
After impressing during China's World Cup campaign, Li joined Everton on loan, eventually securing a permanent move. He made 33 appearances in his debut season under manager David Moyes, but injuries later hampered his progress.
Following his retirement from playing in 2011, Li transitioned into coaching, taking up his first managerial role with Hebei China Fortune in 2015.
He later ascended to the position of head coach for China's senior national team, initially stepping in as a caretaker before being appointed permanently.
According to Chinese state media, Li admitted to both giving and receiving bribes, actions that were reportedly aimed at influencing player selection and manipulating match outcomes. "I'm very sorry," Li stated in a documentary aired earlier this year on CCTV. "I should have kept my head to the ground and followed the right path. There were certain things that at the time were common practices in football."
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