SUMMARY
- Li Tie, former Everton and Sheffield United player has stained his reputation with a massive controversy.
- The player had been accused of bribing his way to his current position.
Former Everton and Sheffield United player, Li Tie, has been sentenced to prison for life in a match-fixing and bribery scandal. The 46-year-old manager recently confessed to his crimes on his appearance on a state broadcaster CCTV following a grueling investigation from the authorities.
Li Tie’s name came under suspicion when authorities accused the manager of serious violation of the law. The Chinese Soccer Association is in the process of removing corruption from the game in the country. They are running a big anti-corruption campaign in the sport since 2023.
Li Tie confessed to match-fixing in China and bribes to secure his latest job
The sentence to Li Tie feels like a big statement for the Chinese soccer community that no corruption in the sport will be tolerated in the country. Li Tie admitted the crime of match-fixing during his spell as the manager of Hebei China Fortune and Wuhan Zall. The Wuhan-based side won the promotion from China’s second division in 2018 as the champions of the league.
A busy day on the transfer market for #PrisonFC continues as ex-Everton player and China National Team manager, Li Tie joins the #IronBars coaching staff on a lifetime deal! pic.twitter.com/5S4cyq1Nr6
— Prison FC (@PrisonAFC) February 23, 2024
The 46-year-old further admitted that he gave out $418,254 in bribes to secure his latest job as the head coach of the national team of China. He was promoted to the job in 2020 after being a caretaker manager for the national team for two months. Tie has been sentenced to prison for this debacle, as per reports from China-based author, Mark Dreyer.
Li Tie played for Everton and Sheffield United
Li Tie started his career at the youth clubs of Liaoning Youth and Jianlibao Youth. His first big move came in 2002 when he moved to the English Premier League with Everton. He played four seasons at the English club before moving to Sheffield United in the summer of 2006.
🚨💣| Ex-Everton footballer Li Tie ‘sentenced to life in prison’ for match-fixing and £300k job bribe.
Li, 46, was embroiled in a corruption scandal after publicly admitting that he paid 3 million yuan (£330,000) in bribes in order to manage China’s national team.
Also in his… pic.twitter.com/mh84ngtynv
— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) February 23, 2024
Tie played another two seasons in England before moving back to China with CD Blades. A Stint with Liaoning FC followed in 2008 after which the defensive midfielder retired in 2012. The midfielder played 34 matches in the English Premier League and was a former teammate of Wayne Rooney. He was regarded as one of the best Chinese players of his generation.
Li Tie started his managerial career with HB CFFC in 2015. He had some small stints with the national team as the assistant manager before moving back to club soccer as a Sporting Director at WH Zall. Tie has cemented himself in the soccer history of China, but the current debacle will always put a question mark surrounding his legacy in his native country.