Li Tie, former Everton player and China's national team coach, received a 20-year prison sentence for bribery and match-fixing from a Wuhan court. The sentencing is part of China's broader crackdown on corruption in soccer.

Recently, China's Football Association banned 43 players and officials for life following extensive investigations into corruption and match-fixing, highlighting the severity of the issue in Chinese soccer.

In Germany, authorities are investigating potential match-fixing and betting fraud in lower leagues after reports emerged about match-fixing information being sold on the dark web.

Notable recent cases include:

• Three Australian A-League players arrested for match manipulation linked to South American crime groups
• West Ham's Lucas Paqueta facing spot-fixing charges, potentially affecting his £90M Manchester City transfer
• Newcastle's Sandro Tonali suspended following betting scandal involvement
• Juventus player Nicolo Fagioli banned for seven months over €3M illegal gambling activities

The sport continues to battle corruption globally, with Thailand authorities recently seizing millions from illegal betting operations during Euro 2024, while various leagues and governing bodies implement stricter monitoring and enforcement measures.

These developments underscore soccer's ongoing challenges with match-fixing and illegal betting, prompting increased scrutiny and regulatory action worldwide. Governing bodies are strengthening their approach to corruption, implementing more robust detection systems and harsher penalties for violations.

FIFA and national associations continue to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to maintain the sport's integrity, though new cases regularly emerge across different leagues and levels of competition.

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