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Li Tie, from Chinese football idol to symbol of corruption in the national sport

Chinese football is in the midst of an unprecedented storm of scandal, and the epicentre of the controversy has a name: Li Tie. The former national team coach, once considered a football legend in the Asian country, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for accepting and paying bribes, a sentence that shakes the foundations of a sport that China aspired to lead to the world's elite.

A scandal of historic proportions

The sentence was handed down by the Xianning Intermediate People's Court in Hubei province, marking perhaps the most emblematic case in a wave of corruption investigations and convictions in Chinese football. Li Tie is not an isolated case. Over the past few months, several senior sports officials have fallen from grace, including former Chinese Super League (CSL) president Liu Jun and former Chinese Football Association (CFA) general secretary Liu Yi, who have received prison sentences of 10 and 11 years respectively.

These cases highlight what appears to be a structural problem in Chinese football, where corruption has been rife. Even the Referee Management Department has not been left unscathed, with its former director Tan Hai sentenced to six and a half years in prison for accepting bribes.

Li Tie: from national hero to villain

Li Tie, 46, was for years an icon of Chinese football. As a player, he excelled with Liaoning and later made history by being part of the team that qualified for China's only World Cup, in 2002. A spell with Everton in the Premier League brought him international notoriety, although injuries limited his impact in England.

However, his transition to the bench was not as glorious. Appointed manager in 2020, his tenure was plagued by criticism for both his tactical management and his attitude. His reluctance to call up nationalised players, such as Brazil's Elkeson, and failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar marked his fall from grace. He finally resigned in December 2021, but the problems did not end there.

In November 2022, the Chinese authorities announced an investigation against him for ‘serious violations of the law’. It was then that the extent of his involvement in a corruption scheme that has exposed one of the country's most influential sports figures was uncovered.

The impact on Chinese football

Li Tie's conviction is not an isolated incident, but the tip of the iceberg in a sport trying to deal with the weight of its corrupt past. In response, the Chinese Football Association has pledged ‘greater transparency and openness’, although these statements come at a time when public confidence is at rock bottom.

The scandal also threatens China's ambitions to become a global football power. As the country invests millions in academies, stadiums and leagues, these corruption cases send a mixed message that could damage its long-term efforts.

A strong message from the authorities

The harsh sentencing of Li Tie and others involved appears to be a clear strategy by the Chinese government to set a precedent and demonstrate that there will be no tolerance for such practices. However, the challenge for Chinese football is much greater. Beyond condemnations, the sport needs structural change that not only punishes past mistakes, but prevents them from happening again.

For now, Li Tie, a figure who once inspired millions, has become a reminder of how far a star can fall when power and unbridled ambition overshadow the love of the game.