Li Tie: Former Premier League Star Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison
- Former head coach of the Chinese national football team Li Tie has been jailed for 20 years for corruption crimes
- Tie is also a former professional player who played with Wayne Rooney during his spell at Everton in the early 2000s
- His sentencing is the latest in Chinese leader Xi Jinping's enhanced efforts to crack down on corruption and bribery
A former Premier League star has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in China over serious violations crimes.
Lie Tie received the heavy punishment on Friday for crimes related to bribery and corruption. The former Everton star admitted to match-fixing, accepting and offering bribes to get coaching job.
Source: Getty Images
His sentencing is the latest in Chinese President Xi Jinping's efforts to crack down on corruption in all sectors of the country.
Tie's sentencing comes a few days after former members of the Chinese Football Association were handed jail sentences for similar offences, as the BBC reported.
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Who is Li Tie?
Tie's major highlight of his playing career were the five years he spent in England – first at Everton then at Sheffield United. He played with Wayne Rooney at Goodison Park.
He is regarded as one of the most accomplished football players in his country. In 2019, he was appointed coach of the men's national team and served for two years.
The investigation started in 2022 after the national team suffered a disappointing elimination from the preliminary stages of World Cup qualification. The government initiated investigations into match-fixing and corruption allegations involving the team.
Tie was accused of accepting more than $6.8 million in bribes in the two years he served as the national team coach and of using more than $412,800 to land the job.
Manchester City await verdict
In a separate report, Briefly News reported that Manchester City's hearing on 115 financial charges concluded last week, with a verdict expected early next year.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola faces his toughest spell since joining the club in 2016, compounded by a recent Champions League loss to Juventus.
Concerns about the club's stability have prompted discussions with agents about future moves.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
