Li Tie, the former coach of the Chinese men's national football team, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for accepting over $10 million in bribes. This sentencing follows a crackdown on corruption in Chinese football, with Li's case being a significant example of the wider corruption issues facing the sport in China.
During a documentary aired by state broadcaster CCTV, Li Tie admitted to participating in match-fixing, saying, 'Once you achieve success in the wrong way, you become more desperate for more success. This way then becomes a habit.' His candid admission highlights how pervasive and dangerously normalized corruption can become in competitive sports.
Li expressed regret, stating, 'I'm very sorry. I should have kept my head to the ground and followed the right path.' He acknowledged the pressures within football, mentioning, 'There were certain things that at the time were common practices in football,' illustrating how systemic issues contribute to individual decisions.
This week, several other high-profile figures in Chinese football have been sentenced as part of a broader anti-corruption campaign. For instance, Liu Yi, the former secretary general of the CFA, received an 11-year prison sentence for bribery-related offenses, indicating a concerted effort to clean up the sport.
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