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Published Apr 30, 2023

829: Sportswashing | Skeptical Sunday

Jordan Harbinger and Andrew Gold delve into the dark side of sportswashing, exposing how authoritarian regimes use major sporting events to cleanse their images amidst systemic corruption and human rights abuses, with a sharp focus on FIFA and the Premier League scandals.
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  • FIFA Corruption

    The FIFA scandals reveal a disturbing pattern of bribery and fraud that has enabled sportswashing on a global scale. explains how Qatar, despite having no significant soccer history, won the bid to host the 2022 World Cup over more established nations due to corrupt practices within FIFA 1. A decade-long investigation by the US Department of Justice confirmed that representatives from Qatar and Russia bribed FIFA officials to secure their bids 2.

    FIFA, the organization in charge of soccer worldwide, is known to be one of the most openly corrupt and unchallengeable mafias in history.

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    This corruption has not only tarnished the reputation of the sport but also allowed authoritarian regimes to use soccer as a tool for image laundering.

       

    Premier League Scandal

    The Premier League is not immune to corruption, with financial irregularities and questionable investors influencing the sport. discusses the allegations against Manchester City, which has been accused of inflating earnings through dubious sponsorship deals to circumvent financial fair play rules 3. This scandal highlights the broader issue of sportswashing, where regimes use sports to improve their image despite ongoing human rights abuses 4.

    Manchester City might be expelled from the league altogether, or perhaps relegated, and they might lose all of their trophies over the last ten years.

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    The involvement of wealthy investors from countries with poor human rights records further complicates efforts to maintain integrity in the sport.

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