Li Tie, who was once a member of the Chinese national men's football team and later became the head coach, has always been a figure on the cusp of Chinese football.
Although Li Tie finally ended up behind bars, he also has his own merits and contributions. Here are some of his major contributions to football:
Credit 1. Outstanding performance as a player, a meritorious player of the national team: Li Tie represented the Chinese national team in the 2002 South Korea-Japan World Cup when he was a player, and is an important figure in the history of Chinese football. He has been consistent and outstanding for the national team, especially playing a key role in the defensive and attacking transitions in midfield.
Credit 2. Playing in the Premier League as a player: Li Tie was one of the first players in Asia to play in the Premier League. During his tenure at Everton Club in the English Premier League, he won wide recognition from fans at home and abroad with his outstanding performance and professional attitude, and established a good image for Chinese players on the international stage.
Credit 3. During his tenure, the club's coaching achievements: After retiring, Li Tie transformed into a coach and achieved remarkable results in many clubs. He served as an assistant coach for Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao Club and then as the head coach of Hebei Huaxia Happiness Club and Wuhan Zall Club, where he led both teams to a successful breakthrough and proved his ability and potential in coaching.
Credit 4. During his tenure, he cultivated young players: In the process of coaching, Li Tie paid attention to the cultivation and growth of young players, laying a solid foundation for the future development of Chinese football.
5. Li Tie was appointed as the head coach of the national team: In January 2020, Li Tie was officially appointed as the head coach of the Chinese national men's football team, shouldering the important task of preparing for the Asian qualifiers for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. His appointment is seen as a new starting point for Chinese football, bringing new hopes and challenges.
Credit 6. Li Tie's promotion of youth training: Li Tie established the No. 8 Football Park in his hometown of Shenyang, which is committed to deepening football youth training and contributing to the cultivation of more football talents.
As the former head coach of the Chinese national men's football team, Li Tie has made certain achievements in his career, but he is also suspected of serious violations of law and discipline. Here are Li Tie's six major faults:
Paying bribes to get a position
Fault 1. Offering a bribe of 3 million: In order to seek the position of head coach of the national team, Li Tie was suspected of lobbying Zall Club to take 2 million yuan to bribe Chen Xuyuan, and also bribed Liu Yi, then secretary general of the Football Association, with a total bribe amount of 3 million yuan.
Fault 2. Match-fixing behind the team: Behind Li Tie's two successful attempts to lead the team into the Chinese Super League, a large number of match-fixing was involved. This kind of behavior seriously undermines the fairness and impartiality of football matches and damages the image of Chinese football.
Fault 3. Spending money to buy off opponents: During his tenure as the head coach of Hebei Huaxia Happiness Club, Li Tie was suspected of spending 14 million yuan to buy rival clubs, head coaches, and players to ensure that the team could surpass success. This kind of behavior is not only against sportsmanship, but also against the law.
Fault 4. Power-for-money trading: Li Tie signed a so-called contract with Zall Club totaling 60 million yuan, which actually covered up the essence of power-for-money trading. This behavior is suspected of commercial bribery, which seriously violates professional ethics and legal provisions.
Fault 5. Mentality: Li Tie's behavior reflects a mentality of quick success, which is extremely harmful to the long-term development of football. Not only does it undermine the level playing field, but it also affects the values of young players.
Fault 6. Disruption of football culture: Li Tie's actions have wreaked havoc on Chinese football culture. Football, as a team sport, emphasizes fair play, respect for rules and sportsmanship, and Li Tie's behavior violates these basic principles.
Li Tie's mistakes not only damaged his personal reputation, but also had a negative impact on the development of Chinese football. The exposure and handling of these behaviors are of great significance for purifying the environment of Chinese football and restoring public confidence in Chinese football. At the same time, it also reminds all sports practitioners to abide by the rules, adhere to the moral bottom line, and participate in sports competitions with the principles of justice, fairness and openness.