In the latest state-backed documentary series on corruption in China, Li Tie, a former head coach of China’s national men’s soccer team, admitted to match fixing and bribing his way to his position. The series was co-produced by the country’s top graft watchdog and the state broadcaster. Photo: IC Photo

Li trains with the rest of national men’s soccer team in November 2004 at Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong province. Photo: VCG

Li attends Chinese Super League match in June 2015 as an assistant coach of the Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club. Photo: VCG

As head coach of the Hebei Fortune Football Club, Li celebrates the team’s victory over Shenzhen Yuheng Football Club in November 2015, which earned it a spot in the 2016 Chinese Super League. The club’s chairman at the time admitted in the documentary that he paid 14 million yuan in bribes — a portion of which went to Li — to secure the team’s place in the league. Photo: VCG

As assistant coach of China’s national team, Li gestures alongside the squad’s head coach Marcello Lippi after a Chinese player goes down in an Asian Football Confederation Champions League qualifier in March 2017 in Changsha, South China’s Hunan province. Photo: VCG

The Wuhan Zull Football Club’s players toss Li in the air after the team earned a place in the 2018 China League in Wuhan, Hubei province in 2018. Photo: VCG

As head coach, Li leads the national men’s soccer team in practice at their training center in Shanghai in May 2020. Photo: VCG

Former Chinese Football Association President Chen Xuyuan visits the national team’s training center in Shanghai in October 2020. Chen was charged with bribery in September 2023, which he admitted in the documentary. Photo: VCG

Li guides the Chinese national team during a FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier match against Vietnam in the United Arab Emirates in October 2021. Photo: VCG　

Li gestures at a FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier match between China and Saudi Arabia in the Gulf country in October 2021. Photo: IC Photo