Li Tie, exentrenador del equipo de fútbol masculino de China, ha recibido una condena de 20 años de cárcel tras admitir múltiples cargos de soborno. Según medios estatales, Li confesó haber aceptado sobornos, realizar pagos para asegurar su puesto como entrenador y manipular partidos a lo largo de su carrera. Este caso representa otro ejemplo importante de corrupción revelado en la campaña continua de China contra el fraude, que se ha extendido a diversos sectores como el deporte, la banca y el ejército.
Li Tie, the former head coach of China’s national men’s football team, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting to numerous bribery charges. According to state media, Li confessed to accepting bribes, offering payments to secure his coaching position, and manipulating matches during his career. This case marks another significant instance of corruption uncovered in China’s ongoing anti-graft campaign, which has expanded across various sectors, including sports, banking, and the military.
The 47-year-old’s fall from grace is linked to a wider anti-corruption initiative spearheaded by President Xi Jinping. Xi has made it a priority to eliminate corruption within Chinese football, a sport he has long seen as a possible emblem of national pride. Nonetheless, recent disclosures of rampant wrongdoing have significantly hindered China’s goals of emerging as a leading force in global football.
The sentencing of Li brings attention to a system entrenched in corrupt practices, with numerous prominent individuals in Chinese football under investigation as well. Earlier this week, three ex-officials from the Chinese Football Association (CFA) were found guilty on related charges. Altogether, over twelve coaches and players have been investigated as part of the extensive anti-corruption measures.
La confesión de Li se transmitió a principios de este año en un documental producido por el estado, donde expresó remordimiento por sus acciones. “Lamento profundamente lo ocurrido”, afirmó. “Debería haberme mantenido firme y seguido el camino correcto. Pero en ese momento, participaba en prácticas que se consideraban normales en el fútbol”. Su disculpa pública resaltó la naturaleza sistémica de la corrupción dentro del deporte, que anteriormente ha sido objeto de medidas similares de represión.
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.
Li’s former superior, Chen Xuyuan, who previously served as the president of the CFA, was sentenced to life imprisonment earlier in 2024. Chen was convicted of accepting bribes totaling $11 million. His case, along with Li’s, reflects the scale of corruption among high-ranking officials tasked with overseeing China’s football development.
The crackdown on football corruption echoes a similar campaign in 2010, during which several officials, players, and referees were imprisoned for match-fixing and bribery. Xi Jinping, then serving as vice president, spearheaded that effort as well. However, despite the crackdown, corruption has persisted, with the current campaign described by observers as a repeat of past efforts, albeit involving larger sums of money.
Rowan Simons, a football expert and author of Bamboo Goalposts
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.
Li Tie’s football career began on a high note, with the former midfielder making 92 appearances for China and playing in the country’s only World Cup appearance in 2002. His transition to coaching initially seemed promising, culminating in his appointment as head coach of the national team in 2020. However, his tenure ended in controversy when he stepped down in 2021 amid growing allegations of misconduct.
The repercussions of the latest convictions reach beyond personal penalties, prompting wider inquiries about the governance of football in China. The imprisonment and sentencing of individuals such as Li Tie and Chen Xuyuan emphasize the difficulties in eliminating corruption in a system where it has been deeply rooted for years. Detractors contend that although crackdowns address particular misconduct incidents, they fall short of addressing the foundational structures that allow corruption to continue.
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.
La campaña más amplia contra la corrupción, que se extiende mucho más allá del fútbol, ha apuntado a figuras prominentes en diversas industrias. El gobierno de Xi Jinping ha presentado estos esfuerzos como esenciales para mantener la confianza pública y asegurar la integridad de las instituciones chinas. No obstante, los críticos han cuestionado si las campañas se centran tanto en consolidar el poder político como en abordar realmente la corrupción.
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.