ABSTRACT

‘You have created a monster.’ According to Sepp Blatter, this warning was imparted to him by João Havelange, the president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) from 1974 to 1998. 2 The Brazilian was not talking about corruption, bribes or commissions, but was instead referring to the fact that multinational companies and TV networks had been invited to the game, transforming sports forever and taking it to every corner of the Earth. As there was no oversight, though, an unholy alliance had also been created that would enable a small group of officials and businessmen to control football and to kidnap the emotions of millions of fans around the world.