Former Everton midfielder Li Tie, once celebrated for his performances on the football field, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for bribery and match-fixing.
The 47-year-old confessed to both giving and receiving bribes, amassing over £12.6 million through corrupt practices.
Li’s fall from grace follows a lengthy investigation by the Chinese Communist Party, focusing on his conduct between 2015 and 2021.
In March 2024, Li pleaded guilty, admitting to a culture of dishonesty in the sport.
Appearing in a state-broadcast documentary on CCTV, Li expressed remorse for his actions “I’m very sorry. I should have kept my head down and followed the right path.
There were certain things that at the time were common practices in football.”
Once a symbol of Chinese football, Li’s case is a sobering reminder of the consequences of corruption in sports.
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