Corruption

Abstract

Football has always been a business: since 1885 when the FA accepted professionalism, money has overpowered idealistic notions such as sportsmanship and fair play: everyone including players, fans and directors wanted to win rather than just participate. Has this annihilated fair play completely? The chapter answers this question by examining the three major types of corruption in football. (1) Matchfixing, the first evidence of which was in 1915, the most recent evidence of which is the present day. (2) Bungs, these being illicit payments made to agents and managers in order to facilitate the transfer of players. (3) Kickbacks, the bribes regularly received – and often administered — by FIFA officials with the power to influence key decisions that affect the destinations of World Cup tournaments and the broadcasting rights of media corporations covering them. Fans recognize that FIFA is an organization run by self-serving individuals with little interest in the health of the sport.