China’s former coach Li Tie under investigation

An investigation has been opened against the former coach of the China national football team, Li Tie, suspected of “serious violations of the law”, Chinese authorities announced on Saturday. This is being carried out by a disciplinary body of the country’s General Administration of Sports, said a statement published on the website of a provincial government in central China, without specifying the nature of these alleged violations.

Aged 45, Li Tie is one of the most famous Chinese football players. He played in the English Premier League at Everton between 2002 and 2006 and has over 90 caps. Li took charge of the national team in 2020, but stepped down last year after a poor qualifying spell that ultimately ruled China out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.