FIFA: Ballon rond et corruption

This is a must see documentary even if you are not a futbol fan. Oh how greed can corrupt absolutely should be the subtitle for this film. Based on the book, "Red Card", it follows the evolution of FIFA from a non-for-profit steward of the world's beautiful game to a commercialized, money grabbing, pocket lining sham of an organization. It's top leadership, more interested in their own personal gain than helping to develop soccer in underdeveloped countries like Africa and Asia (one of its stated missions). This documentary helps to blow the lid off the deepest crevices of FiFA's illegal tactics.

More importantly, this documentary leaves the viewer with a broader lesson than just the corruption of FIFA. It explores "sports washing" - when authoritarian regimes with serious human rights abuses host large sporting events in hopes of cleaning up their image. From the Munich Olympics in 1936, hosted by Hitler to Russia and now Qatar hosting the World Cup sports lovers need to recognize how sports are being manipulated for political and economic gain. Qatar bought off FIFA so they could host - a country where women, LGBTQ, and minorities are treated like second class citizens. You will want to boycott this World Cup after watching FIFA Uncovered.

This is a fascinating watch, ahead of The Qatar world cup in 2022, this four part series details how it happened, how we've gone from Russia, to Qatar.

Such a fascinating watch, whether you love football or not, this really is worth a few hours of your time. Fascinating interviews and insight, the amount of times you'll hear the words...'FIFA is not corrupt,' said with a straight face and no blushing.

The first word that comes to mind when you think of FIFA, corruption, we've all known for many years that the institution is a rotten, corrupt organisation, one which has served to line certain pockets. Credit to those that went after those that thought they were beyond reproach.

Money makes the world go round, that saying could well be applicable for those at FIFA. The organisation is rotten to its core, it seemed that many of those involved were heavily into corruption, blatant levels of it. It is actually sickening to watch. You can't help but feel bad for those that were in place for the love of the game, what must they have thought watching events unfolding over that last few years.

If like I do, you love football, you are going to watch the world cup, all I ask is that you spare a moment to think of those that died building the infrastructure in Qatar.

Where next, you have to wonder, will it be to whoever is willing to pay the biggest price. North Korea maybe?

Startling, 9/10.

Because you will end up with repugnant narcissists with Napoleon Complex like Sepp Blatter. The man is clearly insecure about his height, having brought it up on two occasions unprompted in the first episode alone and lying about his actual height (he says he is 5'7" but he is arguably only around 5'3"). Imagine letting yourself be tormented by a lack of height your entire life regardless of wealth and status. While his contribution to this documentary was useful in portraying just how delusional and self-serving he is, much of it was not relevant to illustrating the corruption happening under his presidency within FIFA.

The FIFA story is just an example of what is happening across the world in companies, corporations, governments and countries. Corruption is inevitable when you have unsound people, who are narcissistic, psychopathic or Machiavellian, pulling the strings at the top. They are the ones who are ambitious and unscrupulous, displacing their good-natured and righteous opponents. The unsuspecting public are also often swayed by their empty promises and false image. To mitigate corruption, first know the enemy and stop giving them a clear path to unfettered power.

You know you're dealing with a psychopath Blatter when he could smirk at every horrible event/deed - even if he's not personally involved in it, the nonchalance is chilling. And if he isn't, and he wasn't aware of any wrongdoings, the fact that things were happening right under his nose and he's ignorant of them all makes you question what kind of a leader he was.

And "I like the question" + smirk when asked about abuses and deaths of foreign workers in Qatar. Goodness. ICYMI, this is the same guy who's reported to have ambitions to win the Nobel Peace Prize via FIFA.

Perhaps what needs more probing is our unquestioning psyche. There are many corrupted and immoral institutions in the world, FIFA is hardly the only one, yet most of us keep letting it recur, turn a blind eye as long as we could consume something nice. Worse, once we sense that we could benefit from a corruption, we will potentially turn to the dark side in the blink of an eye. But I think as long as money is regarded as the only thing of true value in most societies, I'm not optimistic anything will ever change.

As a lifelong fan of football, or soccer as it's known elsewhere, you often have to remember that the sport is a very quickly changing industry. From a result one week to a newspaper headline the next day. Within all this mayhem, it's easy to forget what has happened and what is most likely still going on in one way or another.

FIFA Uncovered is a reminder of how disgusting and immoral these absolute pigs were/are. The absolute front of Blatter to sit there and be interviewed smiling during this documentary is shocking. The man deserves prison and this documentary shines upon that.

RIP to the workers in Qatar.