ABSTRACT
When Transparency International Germany established its Working Group on Sport2 in 2006, it was pioneering work at the time. ‘Sport and corruption? We have more important issues than that!’ was the view of the international anti-corruption movement, on the one hand; ‘There is no corruption in sport!’ insisted the sport movement, on the other. Experience in national and international sport organisations, and reading between the lines, told TI Germany otherwise, however. Accordingly, although the prevailing view was displayed by a high-ranking German football official when informed about this new work (he responded by saying: ‘German football clubs will not be able to buy any South American player without paying some money behind the scenes. You may call that a bribe – but there is nothing we can do about it!’), TI Germany thought that something could indeed be done. It took time, and trial and error, but that thinking has subsequently been shown to be right.
