Former China national team coach and ex-Everton midfielder Li Tie stands trial on bribery charges, as part of a broader crackdown on football corruption in the country. This follows the recent imprisonment of his former superior, Chen Xuyuan, for accepting bribes totaling $11 million, reflecting intensified efforts to combat corruption in Chinese football.

Former China national team coach and ex-Everton midfielder Li Tie finds himself at the center of a high-profile bribery trial, underscoring the intensified efforts to root out corruption in Chinese football. The trial comes in the wake of the sentencing of Li's former boss, Chen Xuyuan, who received a life sentence for his involvement in bribery amounting to $11 million.

Amid tight control by the ruling Communist Party, the Chinese legal system boasts a near-100 percent conviction rate in criminal cases, highlighting the severity of the charges against Li. Local journalists converged outside the court in Hubei province where the 46-year-old's case is set to unfold, signaling the significant public interest in the proceedings.

Li, who served as China's coach from January 2020 to December 2021, faces allegations of both giving and receiving bribes, according to state broadcaster CCTV. His involvement in a documentary aired on CCTV earlier this year, exposing widespread corruption in Chinese football, has drawn further attention to his case.

In the documentary, Li confessed to arranging bribes totaling nearly $421,000 to secure coaching positions and admitted to involvement in match-fixing during his tenure as a club coach in the Chinese Super League. Despite citing prevalent practices in football at the time, Li expressed remorse, acknowledging his deviation from the "right path."

With a distinguished playing career that includes nearly 100 appearances for China and a stint in the Premier League with Everton, Li's fall from grace underscores the gravity of the charges and the ongoing efforts to cleanse Chinese football of corruption. As the trial unfolds, it remains to be seen how the proceedings will impact the sport's integrity and the individuals involved.