Former English Premier League midfielder Li Tie has lost his appeal against a 20-year prison sentence for bribery, a Chinese court confirmed Wednesday.
The Hubei Provincial Higher People’s Court upheld the original December ruling against the ex-China coach.
Li, 47, who played nearly 100 times for China and for Everton, was convicted of bribery amidst a broad government crackdown on corruption in Chinese football, initiated in 2022 under President Xi Jinping’s anti-graft campaign.
His initial sentencing and failed appeal mark a significant fall for a once-celebrated figure in the sport.
