A past Premier League soccer player has been sentenced to 20 years behind bars for bribery, according to reports from Chinese state media.
Li Tie, who occupied the midfield position for Everton more than 30 times from 2002 to 2006, later took on the role of manager for the China national team from January 2020 to December 2021.
The 47-year-old is accused of accepting bribes exceeding 50 million yuan (£5.4m).
A court in Xianning found him guilty of “exploiting his roles” as head coach of the national football and selection teams.
Additionally, Li Tie faced charges of accepting bribes between 2015 and 2019 while associated with local football clubs.
He admitted to charges of bribery and corruption in March, following an inquiry that commenced in November 2022.
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Li Tie seated on the bench during his time at Everton in 2005. Pic: Reuters
This incident marks the latest in a string of corruption scandals affecting Chinese football.
In March, Chen Xuyuan, the former president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), was sentenced to life imprisonment for bribery offenses.
Earlier in the week, three additional CFA officials were reported to have received prison sentences for their involvement in bribery, according to state media.
