Ex-Everton and Sheffield United player Li Tie confesses on TV to match-fixing and bribing officials until he got a top coaching job.
After being placed under investigation back in November 2023, his confession was aired in a state-backed documentary which revealed “all-round” corruption in the sport.
Li made who made 40 appearances for the Toffees in all competitions between 2002 and 2006 before signing for Sheffield United but struggled for game time, so went back to his homeland.
🗞️Former Everton player, Li Tie has admitted he fixed matches and bribed his way to the top coaching role. The former China Head Coach’s confession was aired in a state-backed documentary that revealed “all-round” corruption in the sport
(Via – @caixin ) pic.twitter.com/J9yz2UxUE6
— 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 (@EvertonNewsFeed) January 10, 2024
He was probed by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection relating to match fixing whilst he was managing Hebei China Fortune and Wuhan Zall between 2015 and 2020.
And then earlier this week, Li appeared in a state-backed documentary in China, admitting to match fixing, as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s administration said they were cracking down on bribe taking.
The ex-Premier League player paid for brides which allowed him to get the job as head coach of the Chinese national team between October 2019 and December 2021.
He admits to arranging nearly $421,000 (£330,954) in bribes, so that he could take up the position of head coach, while also taking part in fixing matches in his tenure as a club coach of Wuhan Zall.
Li successfully rigged a match at Hebei China Fortune, where he managed between August 2015 and August 2016, then continued to promote match-fixing after becoming the manager of Wuhan Zall Football Club in November 2017.
Li said to China Central Television (CCTV): “I’m very sorry. I should have kept my head to the ground and followed the right path. There were certain things that at the time were common practices in football.
“By gaining ‘success’ through such improper means, it actually made me more and more impatient and eager for quick results.
“In order to achieve good performance, I resorted to influencing referees, bribing opposing players and coaches, sometimes through clubs dealing with other clubs. This behaviour becomes a habit, and eventually, there is even a slight dependence on these practices.”
He says he achieved one of his “biggest dreams”, but it turns out there’s more to the story, asking Wuhan Zall Football Club – where he had been a coach – to intervene on his behalf with the Chinese FA with a promise to return the favour.
Lie, 48, rigged matches at Hebei China Fortune and continued to promote match-fixing when he became the head coach of Wuhan Zall Football Club in 2017.
Still no trial date for former @Everton midfielder Li Tie
But Li Tie appeared giving a televised confession:
Li Tier (former China Head Coach)
Du Zhaocai (former Deputy Minister of General Sports Admin and Party Sec of Chinese FA)
Chen Xuyuan (former Chairman of Chinese FA) pic.twitter.com/LYzyeXCCQk— Mike Gow 高英智 (@mikeygow.bsky.social) (@mikeygow) January 8, 2024
He’s apparently admitted to bribery charges amounting to ¥40m amongst other serious charges.
General view in PRC sports, legal circles is that Li is looking at 15yrs in prison (10-20yrs bracket). Maybe more given embarrassment.
— Mike Gow 高英智 (@mikeygow.bsky.social) (@mikeygow) January 8, 2024
Should note here that this is what Li Tie and others have confessed to after being held incommunicado for over a year.
We don’t really know what has happened. But this is the “official” story and narrative that is now “fact”.
Obviously, they will all be convicted at trial
— Mike Gow 高英智 (@mikeygow.bsky.social) (@mikeygow) January 11, 2024
Last game of the season – Hebei play Shenzhen and need 1pt to guarantee 2nd spot and automatic promotion to the CSL
Their goal was to secure promotion in Year 1, ACL in Year 2 and win the CSL in Year 3
Match fixing was the easiest way to go.
— Mike Gow 高英智 (@mikeygow.bsky.social) (@mikeygow) January 11, 2024
So they gave ¥6m to Shenzhen player Li Fei – on assurances he would buy off other players.
What could possibly go wrong?
— Mike Gow 高英智 (@mikeygow.bsky.social) (@mikeygow) January 11, 2024
But several years later, after more bribery and extortion, Li is ratted out by the owner of Wuhan Zall for his match-fixing and bribery (taking bribes to put 2nd tier Wuhan Zall players in China’s starting XI)
— Mike Gow 高英智 (@mikeygow.bsky.social) (@mikeygow) January 11, 2024
Li coached Wuhan Zall while also being China National Team Head Coach.
But a dispute over pay and Wuhan Zall getting hit with pts deductions for failing to pay players turns Wuhan Zall’s owner into a vengeance machine.
— Mike Gow 高英智 (@mikeygow.bsky.social) (@mikeygow) January 11, 2024
Li Fei is detained and placed under investigation.
Turns out he kept all the ¥6m for himself and didn’t try to get any other players to throw the match.
And he almost got away with it – had Li Tie not had a falling out with his employers at Wuhan Zall.
— Mike Gow 高英智 (@mikeygow.bsky.social) (@mikeygow) January 11, 2024
It’s very sad state of affairs. I’m actually quite upset – especially given the “well he shouldn’t have done it” responses. Shows a profound lack of appreciation for rule of law.
This feels like authorities making an example of Li Tie to send a message.
不是杀鸡儆猴而是杀猴儆鸡
— Mike Gow 高英智 (@mikeygow.bsky.social) (@mikeygow) January 11, 2024
Televised confessions a precursor to trial.
But he’s looking at serious time. 10-15yrs, possibly more.
Should understand that this is after over 12months under CCDI detention and then in detention centre. No access to lawyers for at least first six months. No right to silence
— Mike Gow 高英智 (@mikeygow.bsky.social) (@mikeygow) January 10, 2024
Chinese media had previously said that Li was cooperating with the inquiry after his arrest before he was reportedly transferred to a detention centre.
Li won 8 of the 9 matches in his debut season managing Hebei China Fortune, helping them get promoted to the Chinese Super League, before he also guided Whuan Zall FC to promotion in 2018.
However, Luo Chuan, from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in China, said in the documentary that both promotions were down to bribery and match-fixing.
Hebei’s then-president Meng Jing says in the documentary that for the last match of the 2015 season alone, Hebei China Fortune spent 14 million yuan – over £1.5million at current exchange rates – bribing the players and managers of Shenzhen FC.
It’s also found that a two million yuan payment to the Chinese Football Association president got Ti Li the job of China’s head coach, signing a 60 million yuan deal with Wuhan Zall in exchange for selecting four players for international appearances who, it was claimed, weren’t good enough to play for the national squad.
It is also the second time former @Everton man Li Tie has coached a League one side to promotion, the first being Hebei China Fortune. https://t.co/j6WPdRWzLe
— Wild East Football (@wildeastfootbal) October 7, 2018
This is how fans reacted as the ex-Everton and Sheffield United player confesses on TV to match-fixing and bribing officials…
@Ecclesbean: Another 10 points deduction incoming
@SpiderLewin: So that’s why we didn’t win the league with him in midfield….. makes sense now
@Kopblock_204: Corruption & cheating. Once Everton has touched you.
@ConnorEFC18: LI TIE CURRY CHIPS AND RICEEEEEE
@AntMill5: Remember we got him and Li Wiefeng as part of our shirt sponsorship deal.. could do with striking up another deal to bring in more players 😆
@thumpermaxie: Why am I not surprised.
@LukeHolden2426: Another blue at it 😂
@GeorgMiller12:
Everton aren’t we
CORRUPT
#cheats
@Dewb1878: Somehow end in us getting points deducted
@bignorm1992: So he fixed li Tie
@giantluis_efc: He was a fall guy to take the blame for the corruption scandal.🫠
@CiaranBloo: Take the 5 consecutive 1-0 wins out the trophy cabinet
@Nedproper: And he seemed such a nice lad!🤣🤦♂️
@BillEvram: crying at perhaps our most milquetoast joke ‘legend’ being some type of corrupt Tom Wambsgans-esque genius
@LiamT1878: Hahahaa fucking Everton that
@SoundDave1981: Lie Tie
@Scousepirlo3: He went to Everton as part of a sponsorship deal, he was always gonna be corrupt as fuck 🤣🤣🤣
@JPMRGXN: “Li Tie curry chips n bribes” 🎶
@mcs275: That’s probably the end of him.
@danholling: Most corrupt sport in the world. It will all come out. Won’t be tomorrow. But one day.
Me right now https://t.co/eF3q7ARGNR pic.twitter.com/LBYmT5GOtw
— Joseph Yobo’s Yoyo (@LiTiebackheel) January 10, 2024
Not my sweet sweet Prince!!
🎶 Li Tie, goin down for Briiieeeiiieeeibbbes🎶 https://t.co/m48mlyrbNV pic.twitter.com/uqrW8v2jLx
— James Conder (@jamesconder) January 10, 2024
https://t.co/zMwymorNgg pic.twitter.com/5x2uLtoJV4
— Everton gear (@EvertonGear) January 10, 2024
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