Former Premier League Player Li Tie Sentenced to 20 Years for Match-Fixing

A former Chinese footballer and ex-Premier League player for Everton, Li Tie, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in match-fixing and bribery.

Li, who also served as head coach of China’s national team, pleaded guilty in March to accepting over $16 million (£12.7 million/€15.2 million) in bribes. He also admitted to both giving and receiving bribes, according to reports.

The court revealed that the offences took place during his tenure as an assistant coach at the Hebei China Fortune Club, which competed in the Chinese Super League before folding in 2023. Li was associated with the club from 2015 until 2021, the year he stepped down as China’s national coach.

Investigations found that Li accepted bribes to influence player selections for the national team and facilitated victories for certain clubs in competitions.

As a player, Li had an illustrious career with 92 caps for China and appeared at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He joined Everton on loan in 2002, later making the move permanent in 2003, and made 40 appearances for the club. He also briefly played for Sheffield United before returning to China to conclude his football career.