Former Everton Player Li Tie Sentenced to 20 Years for Match-Fixing
Li Tie, a former Everton and China national team player, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in China for match-fixing and bribery. Li pleaded guilty in March to accepting bribes exceeding $16 million to manipulate match outcomes, as well as offering bribes during his coaching tenure.
Li Tie’s Career and Offences
Li Tie’s career included 92 caps for China, including appearances at the 2002 World Cup. After joining Everton on loan in 2002, he signed a permanent deal in 2003 and made 40 appearances for the club. He also played briefly for Sheffield United before returning to China to focus on coaching.
The court revealed that Li’s offences occurred during his role as assistant coach at the now-defunct Hebei China Fortune Club, which competed in the Chinese Super League. He held the position from 2015 to 2021, where he admitted to taking bribes to select certain players and manipulate match results to benefit specific clubs.
Sweden to Ratify the Macolin Convention on Sports Integrity
In related developments, Sweden has confirmed it will ratify the Macolin Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, becoming the 13th European Union country to do so. The international treaty aims to combat match-fixing and uphold sports integrity.
The convention has already been signed by 39 European states and three non-EU countries, including Australia, Morocco, and Russia. Among the EU countries that have ratified the agreement are Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, and Spain.
The Macolin Convention remains the only international legal framework specifically targeting match-fixing and sports manipulation, providing a unified approach to safeguarding sports integrity worldwide.
Photo: Xinhua