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, quien fue jugador de la Premier League con el Everton, admitió su culpabilidad en marzo por aceptar más de 16 millones de dólares en sobornos. Se informa que estas actividades comenzaron en 2015, cuando Li era asistente técnico en el Hebei China Fortune Club, y se extendieron hasta su renuncia como entrenador principal del equipo nacional en 2021. A cambio de los pagos ilegales, Li supuestamente influía en la selección de jugadores y ayudaba a los clubes de fútbol a asegurar victorias.
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 47-year-old’s downfall is part of a broader corruption crackdown led by President Xi Jinping. Xi has prioritized rooting out corruption in Chinese football, a sport he has long envisioned as a potential source of national pride. However, the latest revelations of widespread misconduct have dealt a blow to China’s ambitions of becoming a global football powerhouse.
Li’s admission was aired earlier this year in a documentary produced by the state, during which he showed remorse for his conduct. “I am deeply sorry,” he expressed. “I should have remained grounded and adhered to the correct principles. However, at that time, I was involved in activities deemed standard in football.” His public apology highlighted the pervasive nature of corruption within the sport, which has faced similar crackdowns in the past.
Li’s ex-boss, Chen Xuyuan, who was once the president of the CFA, received a life sentence earlier in 2024. Chen was found guilty of taking bribes amounting to $11 million. His case, along with Li’s, illustrates the extent of corruption among senior officials responsible for managing the progress of football in China.
La represión contra la corrupción en el fútbol recuerda una campaña similar en 2010, durante la cual varios funcionarios, jugadores y árbitros fueron encarcelados por arreglo de partidos y sobornos. Xi Jinping, entonces vicepresidente, lideró también ese esfuerzo. Sin embargo, a pesar de la campaña, la corrupción ha persistido, y los observadores describen la actual iniciativa como una repetición de intentos anteriores, aunque involucrando cantidades de dinero más grandes.
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.
, compartió su visión sobre los retos que enfrenta el fútbol chino. En una entrevista con la BBC a principios de este año, comentó: “Esta campaña se asemeja notablemente a lo ocurrido hace una década, solo que con diferentes individuos y un alcance financiero mucho mayor”. Según Simons, los problemas sistémicos dentro del deporte han permitido que la corrupción prospere a pesar de los esfuerzos previos para combatirla.
Li Tie’s football journey started successfully, with the former midfielder earning 92 caps for China and participating in the nation’s sole World Cup appearance in 2002. His shift to coaching appeared promising at first, leading to his appointment as head coach of the national team in 2020. Nevertheless, his term concluded in controversy when he resigned in 2021 amid increasing accusations of wrongdoing.
The corruption scandals have marred Xi Jinping’s aspiration to elevate Chinese football to an international standing. Xi had notably articulated his “three wishes” for the sport in 2011: for China to qualify for another World Cup, to one day host the event, and ultimately to secure the championship. Despite considerable investment in football facilities and development programs, these goals have been compromised by ongoing scandals and poor management within the sport.
El impacto de las recientes condenas va más allá de los castigos individuales, planteando cuestiones más amplias sobre la gobernanza del fútbol chino. Los arrestos y sentencias de figuras como Li Tie y Chen Xuyuan destacan los desafíos de erradicar la corrupción en un sistema donde ha estado profundamente arraigada durante años. Los críticos señalan que, aunque las campañas aborden casos específicos de mala conducta, no logran enfrentar las estructuras subyacentes que permiten que la corrupción continúe.
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.
The extensive anti-corruption drive, reaching well beyond the realm of football, has focused on prominent figures across multiple sectors. Xi Jinping’s administration portrays these actions as crucial for preserving public confidence and safeguarding the integrity of Chinese institutions. Nonetheless, skeptics have raised concerns about whether these initiatives are aimed as much at consolidating political authority as they are at tackling corruption.
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.
