Source: CCTV news client
On the 9th, the CCTV Comprehensive Channel of China Central Radio and Television broadcast the fourth episode of the annual anti-corruption blockbuster "Continue to Make Efforts to Promote In-depth Advancement" "Promoting the "Three Non-Corruptions" in One".
The Party and the state attach great importance to sports and pay great attention to the reform and development of Chinese football. In 2015, the General Office of the State Council issued the "Overall Plan for the Reform and Development of Chinese Football", emphasizing the need to focus on the long-term and consolidate the foundation, continue to work hard, and work hard for a long time. Du Zhaocai and Chen Xuyuan, as the heads of the Football Association, should have implemented the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and made promoting reform the first priority. However, they all feel that the reform is difficult and slow to produce results, and instead of spending energy to gnaw this hard bone, it is better to reap some benefits for themselves while betting on the hope of "political achievements" on the World Cup.
Chen Xuyuan, former chairman of the Chinese Football Association: After reading the reform and development plan, I felt that I could not do many things in this matter, when the Football Association was in office. In fact, it is also a question of the concept of political performance. I think that in my office, the national team can participate in the World Cup, doesn't that prove that Chen Xuyuan is very capable.
At that time, there was another person who also wanted to bet on the World Cup, and that was Li Tie. He feels that the false record achieved by match-fixing has accumulated capital for the position of head coach of the men's national football team, but he still needs to push it again. In August 2019, when he learned that the Chinese Football Association was going to form a men's national selection team to participate in the East Asian Cup, he felt that the opportunity had come.
Li Tie, former head coach of the Chinese national men's football team: Because I wanted to be the head coach of the national team so much, I thought of a lot of ways, found a lot of people to ask for help, and found the leaders of the Football Association, who could help me say good things and recommend me.
Li Tie's idea of bribing is the same as playing match-fixing, and he feels that he needs multiple insurances. On the one hand, he lobbied the Zall Club to pay for him to do the work, saying that if he could get into the position, he would also repay the club in many ways, and the club took out 2 million yuan to bribe Chen Xuyuan for this. On the other hand, Li Tie felt that Liu Yi, the secretary general of the Football Association at the time, also had a lot of right to speak, so he gave Liu Yi 1 million yuan out of his own pocket.
Chen Xuyuan, former chairman of the Chinese Football Association: The club sent me money and recommended it to me. He said that Chairman Chen, Li Tie is a good person, and the head coach (position) of the national selection team can create an opportunity and a platform for his future.
Liu Yi, former secretary general of the Chinese Football Association: (Li Tie) asked me to chat about the construction of the national team, and at that time took this opportunity to give me money. He said that he hoped that the Secretary-General would give you more support, and I said no problem, I will definitely support you.
In this way, Li Tie became the head coach of the men's football national selection team as he wished. After Lippi's resignation, he was immediately appointed as the head coach of the men's national team. The day after the position was confirmed, Li Tie flew to Wuhan to negotiate a deal with Zall Club.
Tian Xudong, former chairman of Wuhan Zall Club: In fact, it is an exchange of interests, and the talk is very naked. Which players I'm bringing in, which players are probably going to give playing time, it's definitely going to be a good relationship at the level of the Football Association and help you with some resources. He offered us so many very tempting chips and asked us for money.
Li Tie signed a so-called contract with Zall Club with a total amount of 60 million yuan, but in fact, it was just a cover to cover up the essence of the power-for-money transaction. He quickly added four players from the Zall squad to the national squad.
Tian Xudong, former chairman of Wuhan Zall Club: When I saw the national team list that day, my face was red. What do you mean, I know the ability of our players, I can't get in, I can't get any of them.
Once the selection of players and coaches is used as a weight for personal gain, it is inevitable that they will not produce results. What's more, systematic youth training and a healthy league are the foundation of the national team. When many parties are keen on short-term interests and ignore investment in youth training, when the league is full of unhealthy tendencies and money may determine the outcome of the game, this polluted football soil naturally cannot provide sufficient nutrients for cultivating talents. When fans were still looking forward to Li Tie being able to lead the men's national football team to the World Cup, many insiders already knew that such a miracle could not happen.
Player involved in the case Li Fei: As insiders, we don't have confidence, really. Often you are in a negative game, both mentally and physically, you are in a very relaxed state, and you are not always in a very concentrated state to complete these technical tactics. Then you have been for a long time, and when you want to tighten up again, you can't keep it tight.
Zheng Bin, former assistant coach of Li Tie's team: Modern football is absolutely scientific, and football games still need real games, so that players and coaches can be truly trained.
Li Tie was appointed as the head coach of the national football team from January 2, 2020, to December 3, 2021, when he was dismissed by fans in a scolding situation. The result of quick success is that it rises quickly and falls quickly. I don't know if he still remembers that the reason why he was successful when he was a player was because he "couldn't run", not because he ran "fast".
Li Tie, former head coach of the Chinese national men's football team: I regret it very much, but I still have to be down-to-earth and take the right path. Don't rush for quick success, and don't try to take shortcuts.
It was not only Li Tie who fell on the road of taking shortcuts. Hebei Huaxia Happiness and Wuhan Zall Club have now announced their dissolution. Du Zhaocai and Chen Xuyuan also failed to get the "political achievements" they wanted, but both fell off. It's the same old saying: football is round, and no amount of power and money can shape it arbitrarily.
Chen Xuyuan, former chairman of the Chinese Football Association: Fans can tolerate the backwardness of Chinese football, but they cannot forgive corruption. As president of the Football Association, I have the main responsibility. I want to deeply apologize to the fans of the whole country, I was wrong, I really think I was wrong, I regret it very much. There is no regret medicine to buy, and if there is a regret pill to buy, I am willing to buy it back with my life, and I will not do this kind of thing again.