Hervé Rayner

Sociology of a scandal: the emergence of ‘FIFAgate’

This article examines the social forces underlying FIFAgate. Why do corrupt practices, which are often highly consolidated or even institutionalized, suddenly become scandalous? What is a scandal? Why did FIFA fall into crisis in 2015 and not before? To answer these questions, it is necessary to look at the sequence of thrusts and parries between all the parties involved. Our analysis embraces the notion that social processes are based on relationships in order to provide insights into why and how denunciations can lead to long-tolerated corrupt practices suddenly becoming compromising enough to force an organization’s leaders to implement measures that would have previously been unimaginable. We use multiple sources to examine the emergence of FIFAgate and the way FIFA overcame previous critical situations, describing how FIFA neutralized earlier allegations and developed a remarkable ‘resilience’ to scandal. Finally, we analyse the successive mobilizations whose domino effect led to the emergence of FIFAgate and the measures FIFA took to contain the scandal. Our research enabled us to draw up a new theoretical model for analysing corruption scandals.

Sepp Blatter: Wielding Power Through FIFA

Sepp Blatter’s four decades as a senior executive and then president of FIFA (1998–2015) left an enduring legacy for football, as the way in which he implemented and expanded the vision he shared with his predecessor, Joao Havelange, revolutionised FIFA’s management and finances. Nevertheless, his inability or unwillingness to introduce the reforms needed to stamp out the culture of corruption that permeated FIFA’s dealings, especially those involving its continental confederations. Despite his successes, the corrupt practices and clannish power system that permeated the highest levels of FIFA’s management eventually led to the collapse of the system he had instigated. In fact, the impact of FIFAgate (2015) was so great it shook the whole world of international sport.