Former Everton player Li Tie has been handed a 20-year prison term for his involvement in bribery, including the rigging of football matches.
The 47-year-old, who played alongside Wayne Rooney, later ventured into coaching roles, such as steering the China national team.
Yet recent revelations have shed light on Li's corrupt activities throughout his career, where he engaged in exchanging bribes amounting to more than £12.6 million.
Li admitted to these transgressions earlier this year after the Communist Party initiated an inquiry into his affairs from 2016 to 2021. A Chinese court has now decreed Li will be incarcerated due to his criminal acts.
During a documentary broadcasted in China, Li expressed remorse, stating: "I'm very sorry. I should have kept my head to the ground and followed the right path. There were certain things that at the time were common practices in football."
It's suggested that he even attempted to bribe officials for the managerial spot with the China national team—a position he ultimately vacated in December 2021.
During his career as a midfielder, Li earned 92 international caps, featuring in the squad that represented China at the 2002 World Cup—the country's sole appearance. During his stint in English football from 2002, Li donned the Everton shirt over 30 times.
Li is the latest high-profile sports figure to be convicted in Chinese president Xi Jinping's campaign to rid Chinese football of corruption. Chen Xuyuan, a former president of the Chinese Football Association, was handed a life sentence for bribery in March following an investigation into his behaviour.
He is believed to have accepted bribes totalling around £8.9m.