States of Play
How Sportswashing Took Over Football
By Miguel Delaney
As the 2022 World Cup in Qatar came to an end, Argentina's victory had a sour undertone. Many accusations of financial wrongdoing and sportswashing against the state of Qatar were made throughout the event, throwing the hitherto unimportant topic into the international spotlight. The question, "Who really owns and runs football?" had been raised. Investigating claims of misbehaviour and sportswashing in the beautiful game, writer Miguel Delaney travels from Abu Dhabi to Newcastle and then to London, Paris, Moscow, and New York. The end product is a gripping story that explains how oil-rich oligarchs, state-backed enterprises, media tycoons, and the richest businessmen in the world have dominated football. From Neymar's £198 million move to Paris Saint-Germain and Abu Dhabi's construction empire in Manchester to the failure of Financial Fair Play regulations and the start of the European Super League, Miguel uses first-hand accounts and unheard-of access to key players to create a comprehensive portrait of the pinnacles of contemporary football.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Miguel Delaney is the chief football writer at the Independent and has been nominated for several awards, including the Football Supporters' Association Writer of the Year, British Journalism Awards Sports Journalist of the Year, and SJA Sports Writer of the Year. He is one of football's leading journalists and has covered 14 consecutive Champions League finals, 4 World Cups, and 5 European Championships, amongst others. In this excellent investigation, Delaney reveals the ugly side of the beautiful game. His book isn't just about football; it's much, much more important than that.'
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Publisher: Seven Dials
Publication: November 7, 2024
Price: £16.99
ISBN-10: 1399619403
ISBN 13: 978-1399619400
Hardcover, 528 pages
