Li Tie, who previously served as the coach for China’s national men’s soccer team, has received a 20-year prison sentence following his admission to various bribery offenses. State media reports that Li admitted to taking bribes, making payments to obtain his coaching role, and influencing match outcomes throughout his career. This situation represents yet another important example of corruption exposed in China’s relentless anti-corruption drive, which has reached a wide range of fields, such as sports, finance, and the armed forces.
Li, quien fue jugador de la Premier League con el Everton, admitió su culpabilidad en marzo por aceptar más de 16 millones de dólares en sobornos. Se informa que estas actividades comenzaron en 2015, cuando Li era asistente técnico en el Hebei China Fortune Club, y se extendieron hasta su renuncia como entrenador principal del equipo nacional en 2021. A cambio de los pagos ilegales, Li supuestamente influía en la selección de jugadores y ayudaba a los clubes de fútbol a asegurar victorias.
La caída de este hombre de 47 años es parte de una campaña más amplia contra la corrupción dirigida por el presidente Xi Jinping. Xi ha dado prioridad a la erradicación de la corrupción en el fútbol chino, un deporte que durante mucho tiempo ha imaginado como una fuente potencial de orgullo nacional. No obstante, las recientes revelaciones de mala conducta generalizada han afectado las aspiraciones de China de convertirse en una potencia mundial del fútbol.
The 47-year-old’s downfall is part of a broader corruption crackdown led by President Xi Jinping. Xi has prioritized rooting out corruption in Chinese football, a sport he has long envisioned as a potential source of national pride. However, the latest revelations of widespread misconduct have dealt a blow to China’s ambitions of becoming a global football powerhouse.
Li’s admission was aired earlier this year in a documentary produced by the state, during which he showed remorse for his conduct. “I am deeply sorry,” he expressed. “I should have remained grounded and adhered to the correct principles. However, at that time, I was involved in activities deemed standard in football.” His public apology highlighted the pervasive nature of corruption within the sport, which has faced similar crackdowns in the past.
El antiguo superior de Li, Chen Xuyuan, que previamente ocupó el cargo de presidente de la CFA, fue condenado a cadena perpetua a principios de 2024. Chen fue hallado culpable de aceptar sobornos que suman 11 millones de dólares. Su caso, junto con el de Li, refleja la magnitud de la corrupción entre los altos funcionarios encargados de supervisar el desarrollo del fútbol en China.
La represión contra la corrupción en el fútbol recuerda una campaña similar en 2010, durante la cual varios funcionarios, jugadores y árbitros fueron encarcelados por arreglo de partidos y sobornos. Xi Jinping, entonces vicepresidente, lideró también ese esfuerzo. Sin embargo, a pesar de la campaña, la corrupción ha persistido, y los observadores describen la actual iniciativa como una repetición de intentos anteriores, aunque involucrando cantidades de dinero más grandes.
Rowan Simons, experto en fútbol y autor de Bamboo Goalposts
, provided an analysis of the hurdles confronting Chinese football. In a conversation with the BBC earlier this year, he commented, “This campaign closely mirrors the events of ten years ago, just involving different people and on a significantly larger financial scale.” Simons believes that inherent problems within the sport have enabled corruption to thrive despite prior attempts to tackle it.
La carrera futbolística de Li Tie comenzó de manera prometedora, ya que el excentrocampista jugó 92 partidos para China y participó en la única aparición del país en la Copa del Mundo en 2002. Su paso a la dirección técnica inicialmente aparentaba ser exitoso, llevando a su nombramiento como entrenador del equipo nacional en 2020. Sin embargo, su mandato terminó envuelto en controversia al renunciar en 2021 en medio de crecientes acusaciones de mala conducta.
The corruption scandals have marred Xi Jinping’s aspiration to elevate Chinese football to an international standing. Xi had notably articulated his “three wishes” for the sport in 2011: for China to qualify for another World Cup, to one day host the event, and ultimately to secure the championship. Despite considerable investment in football facilities and development programs, these goals have been compromised by ongoing scandals and poor management within the sport.
The corruption cases have cast a shadow over Xi Jinping’s vision of elevating Chinese football to international prominence. Xi had famously outlined his “three wishes” for the sport in 2011: for China to qualify for another World Cup, eventually host the tournament, and ultimately win the championship. Despite significant investments in football infrastructure and training programs, these ambitions have been undermined by the scandals and mismanagement that continue to plague the sport.
The impact of the recent convictions extends beyond individual punishments, raising broader questions about the governance of Chinese football. The arrests and sentencing of figures like Li Tie and Chen Xuyuan highlight the challenges of eradicating corruption in a system where it has been deeply entrenched for years. Critics argue that while crackdowns address specific instances of misconduct, they fail to tackle the underlying structures that enable corruption to persist.
The repercussions of the corruption scandals are also being felt at the grassroots level, where efforts to promote football among younger generations have been overshadowed by negative headlines. China’s attempts to cultivate a new generation of talented footballers have been hampered by the perception of systemic dishonesty within the sport. For many aspiring players and their families, the scandals serve as a stark reminder of the obstacles facing those who hope to succeed in Chinese football.
The broader anti-corruption campaign, which extends far beyond football, has targeted high-profile figures across various industries. Xi Jinping’s government has framed these efforts as essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring the integrity of Chinese institutions. However, critics have questioned whether the campaigns are as much about consolidating political power as they are about addressing corruption.
As Li Tie begins his 20-year prison sentence, the focus shifts to whether the recent crackdown will lead to meaningful reform within Chinese football. Observers remain skeptical, noting that similar campaigns in the past have failed to produce lasting change. For now, the sentencing of Li and other officials symbolizes both the scale of the problem and the difficulty of eradicating corruption in a sport that has long been synonymous with national aspirations and systemic challenges.