Li Tie, the former Everton player who subsequently became coach of the China national team, has received a 20-year prison sentence for bribery. Chinese state media reported Friday that Li was found guilty of “leveraging his positions” as head coach to receive bribes of more than 50 million yuan (about £5.5m), by a court in the city of Xianning.
Li coached the Chinese men’s team between January 2020 and December 2021, having coached Hebei China Fortune and Wuhan Zall after returning to China following injury-hit spells with Everton and Sheffield United. His sentencing is the latest in a series of high-profile corruption cases involving Chinese football figures.