Unraveling the Bribery Scandal in Chinese Football
Li Tie's Journey and Offenses
Li Tie, a former player for Everton in the English Premier League, made a shocking confession this year. He admitted to fixing matches, accepting bribes, and even offering bribes to secure the top coaching job. From 2015, when he was an assistant coach at the Hebei China Fortune Club, until 2021 when he resigned as the national coach, he amassed over $16 million in bribes. In exchange, he would select specific individuals for the national team and assist football clubs in winning competitions. This act of corruption has brought disgrace to the sport and raised questions about the integrity of the national team.Li's actions have had a profound impact on Chinese football. His 92 appearances for the country and participation in the 2002 World Cup, which was the only appearance in the finals so far, were overshadowed by his illegal activities. His former boss, the former CFA president Chen Xuyuan, was also sentenced to life in prison earlier this year for accepting bribes worth $11 million. This shows the extent of the corruption within the football administration.
The Impact on China's Football Ambitions
President Xi Jinping had expressed his ambition to turn China into a major football power. In 2011, he mentioned his "three wishes" for Chinese football: qualifying for the World Cup again, hosting the tournament, and winning the trophy. However, the recent detentions and convictions of major football figures, including some officials tasked with leading the football revolution, have dealt a severe setback to these ambitions.It is disheartening to see that despite efforts to develop grassroots football and improve the sport, corruption continues to plague the system. The earlier crackdown in 2010, which saw several officials, national team players, and referees jailed for corruption, seemed to have had little lasting impact. Now, with a different set of characters involved and much more money at stake, the fight against corruption in Chinese football remains an uphill battle.
Comparisons and Insights
Rowan Simons, the author of the book Bamboo Goalposts, who has been working on developing grassroots football in China for a long time, told BBC Chinese earlier this year that the current anti-corruption campaign looks similar to the one in 2010 but with a more significant financial aspect. This indicates that the problem of corruption in Chinese football is deeply ingrained and requires continuous efforts to address.The case of Li Tie and the subsequent anti-corruption drive serve as a reminder of the importance of integrity in sports. It is crucial for the football administration and all stakeholders to work together to restore the credibility of the sport and ensure that future generations of players can pursue their dreams without the shadow of corruption.