Former Everton midfielder Li Tie will be facing a period of 20 years behind bars after being found guilty of indulging in bribery and corruption related practices, Afrosport reports.
The former Chinese football national team head coach took part in offering and ccepting bribes as a non-state staff member, offering bribes to non-state staff and match fixing according to Chinese publication Global Times.
The 47-year-old is one of the most notable footballers China has ever produced having played for English club Everton between 2002 and 2006.
In January, Lee featured in a documentary about the widespread of corruption in Chinese football, revealing he bribed his way into Wuhan Zall where he also aided in match fixing games in the Chinese Super League.
“I’m very sorry. I should have kept my head to the ground and followed the right path,” said Li Tie during the documentary.
“There were certain things that at the time were common practices in football.”
China President Xi Jinping has been putting in massive effort to suppress and eliminate corruption since coming into power in 2013.
