{"product_id":"states-of-play-how-sportswashing-took-over-football-the-international-bestseller-winner-of-the-football-book-of-the-year-award-9781399619424","title":"States of Play: How Sportswashing Took Over Football the International Bestseller \u0026 Winner of the Football Book of the Year Award","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eSHORTLISTED FOR FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR \u0026amp; BEST SPORTS WRITING AWARD AT THE 2025 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA TIMES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR\u003cbr\u003eA TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR\u003cbr\u003eAN IRISH TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR\u003cbr\u003eAN IRISH INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eFully updated to cover Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup bid, the Manchester City charges case and the events of the 2024\/25 season.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Important, perfectly timed and hugely necessary.' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Football needs this book. A monumental piece of investigative journalism.'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e Irish Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A must-read on how modern football works.' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eIan Wright\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Brave, forensic and utterly gripping.' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eTom Holland\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e______________________________ \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe definitive account of how capitalism and the world's elite corrupted modern football.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs the 2022 World Cup in Qatar drew to a close, there was a bitter undercurrent to Argentina's triumph. Throughout the tournament, numerous allegations of sportswashing and financial misconduct had been made against the state of Qatar, moving what had previously been a smaller conversation into the worldwide spotlight. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe question had been asked, who \u003ci\u003ereally \u003c\/i\u003eowns and runs football? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eJourneying from Abu Dhabi to Newcastle, and onto London, Paris, Moscow and New York, journalist Miguel Delaney investigates the allegations of sportswashing and misconduct in the beautiful game. The result is a gripping account of how football has been taken over by the world's wealthiest businessmen, state-backed corporations, media tycoons and oil-rich oligarchs. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFrom Neymar's  198 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain and Abu Dhabi's construction empire in Manchester to failed Financial Fair Play constraints and the dawn of the European Super League, Miguel draws on exclusive interviews and unprecedented access to key stakeholders to produce an all-encompassing exposé of modern footballs highest echelons. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthoritative, riveting and eye-opening, \u003ci\u003e States of Play\u003c\/i\u003e reveals how football has become a tool for the world's elite.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e______________________________ \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e'T\u003c\/i\u003ehe moral compass that the game needs.'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eAndy Brassell\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'In this excellent investigation, Delaney reveals the ugly side of the beautiful game.'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eOliver Bullough\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'The most important football book of its generation.'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eJack Pitt-Brooke\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003e'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eTackles the major issues affecting football today with fearlessness and forensic scrutiny. An important investigation for our times.'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eLaurie Whitwell\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A majestic book. The essential guide to how the people's game has become the plaything of the very rich and powerful.'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eJonathan Wilson\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMiguel Delaney's \u003ci\u003eSTATES OF PLAY \u003c\/i\u003ewas ranked in the\u003ci\u003e Irish Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestsellers list the weeks of 11th-18th November \u0026amp; 9th December 2024.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Seven Dials\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/11\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781399619424\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 528","brand":"Miguel Delaney","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51730201018549,"sku":"9781399619424","price":16.14,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_5c27099a-e417-4dd8-9d5e-9d4e99c3dc80.jpg?v=1758004520","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/states-of-play-how-sportswashing-took-over-football-the-international-bestseller-winner-of-the-football-book-of-the-year-award-9781399619424","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}