Articles

The Untold Story of FIFA’s Diplomacy and the 1966 World Cup: North Korea, Africa and Sir Stanley Rous

alangtomlinson

This article addresses the diplomacy practiced by Sir Stanley Rous, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) president (1961–1974), and the international history of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea involvement in, and the boycott by African nations of, the 1966 World Cup in light of a number of newly available primary sources. The new materials reveal… Continue reading The Untold Story of FIFA’s Diplomacy and the 1966 World Cup: North Korea, Africa and Sir Stanley Rous

FIFA and Ethics: Contradictions, Challenges and Corruption

alangtomlinson

FIFA and Ethics: Contradictions, Challenges and Corruption  Introduction In an insightful overview of the capacity of sociological perspectives to enlighten us about the place of ethics in sport, Chas Critcher wrote, back in the early 1990s, that there are well-established “ways in which the organization of sport actually contributes to disorder, deviance and unethical behavior… Continue reading FIFA and Ethics: Contradictions, Challenges and Corruption

Vitaly Mutko’s Life Ban: The IOC matches its bark with some bite

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At its meeting on 5 December 2017, the IOC’s Executive Board met to consider the Schmid Report, its own commissioned report on the Russian doping question, produced for the Disciplinary Commission (DC) by a panel chaired by Samuel Schmid, a member of the IOC Ethics Committee and a former President of the Swiss Confederation. [1]… Continue reading Vitaly Mutko’s Life Ban: The IOC matches its bark with some bite

Reflections on the corrupt leadership in the Russian Federation’s sports hierarchy: more on Mutko

alangtomlinson

Reflections on the corrupt leadership in the Russian Federation’s sports hierarchy: more on Mutko Alan Tomlinson The McLaren Reports showed, in July and November 2016, involvement at the highest levels of the Russian Federation (across government, the Russian Federal Security Service [FSB], and the national sport organisations) in the corrupt doping practices that stained the… Continue reading Reflections on the corrupt leadership in the Russian Federation’s sports hierarchy: more on Mutko

FIFA: Ethics, Voice and Organisational Power Plays in World Football/Soccer’s Governing Body

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PDF of Presentation made at 37th Annual NASSS Conference. “Fight for your rights and your voice: Public Sociology across organizations and institutions” Tampa, Florida, USA November 4th 2016 FIFA: Ethics, Voice and Organisational Power Plays in World Football/Soccer's Governing Body

England’s World Cup ’66 Triumph

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England’s World Cup ’66 Triumph: ‘Glorious bang’ or Just another Saturday Afternoon? [1] Prelude “England … closed their World Cup with a glorious bang that obliterated memories of its grey, negative beginnings” – Hugh McIlvanney [2] It was supposed to be a weekend of collective euphoria, spawning a sense of national pride that brought together… Continue reading England’s World Cup ’66 Triumph

FIFA and Leadership: The Fall of Sepp Blatter

alangtomlinson

As FIFA approaches its most open presidential election in its history, scheduled for Friday February 26th 2016 in Zurich, perhaps this could be the end of the road for the dynastic excesses of its last two presidents - a good time to reflect on the fundamental flaws of its leadership. At the beginning of June… Continue reading FIFA and Leadership: The Fall of Sepp Blatter