18 Ways in Which Saudi Arabia Bought the FIFA Club World Cup
They own a club, they sponsor the tournament, they provide the prize money, they sponsor FIFA, they own the media rights, they fly players in, and it's just the beginning.
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Ethics complaint against the IWF president: "Elections were not free, it was more like a selection by a few people, mainly by Mr. Jalood"
The Winter Olympic Federations (WOF) and ASOIF's Council are meeting today in Lausanne. The elections of several IF presidents were recently marred by irregularities and corruption. Tomorrow, one of the beneficiaries, weightlifting president Mohammed Jalood, wants to be elected to the ASOIF Council.
Day of shame: aggression in Doha, Qatari officials and their ITTF allies contest Petra Sörling's election and threaten delegates
With the narrowest possible result of 104:102 votes, IOC member Petra Sörling from Sweden won the election in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) against Khalil Al-Mohannadi from Qatar. For now. The Congress has been suspended. Qatar and its allies will take the matter to court.
Live, ITTF elections: insane attacks by Al-Mohannadi supporters on the ITTF integrity officer
Lunch break at the ITTF Annual General Meeting 2025 in Doha. The elections have not even begun, but the attacks by Khalil Al-Mohannadi's faction have already started. His supporters make wrong claims, are questioning everything and cast doubt on the integrity of the ITTF's Integrity Unit.
"Due to bribery": the questionable background of ITTF presidential candidate Khalil Al-Mohannadi
Are five-figure sums and value-in-kind promises being offered for votes at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) election congress in Doha? Whistleblowers are said to have informed ITTF's Integrity Unit. A preliminary investigation is apparently underway. Elections take place on Tuesday.
10th anniversary of FIFA indictment: the master of the doorstep
About one of the few journalists who tirelessly investigated the criminal empire of FIFA and made the US indictment in 2015 possible in the first place. About journalism that was called "brainless", "unpatriotic", "betraying", "frustrating" and "cretinous" by media and politicians in the UK.
Table tennis elections: when the handcuffs click
Presidents of the ITTF and IWF are being elected in Doha and Riyadh these days. In Qatar, president Petra Sörling, an IOC member, must hold her own against host Khalil Al-Mohannadi. An official who once caused difficulties for the Qatari had been arrested and threatened with several years in prison.
Documentation: how the IOC is trying to kill the World Olympians Association
The World Olympians Association (WOA) is not the first organisation that the IOC has dissolved or arranged to be dissolved. In autumn 2022, the more important GAISF was killed off – the trail led to the IOC headquarters. The WOA case is much better documented. Read the most important correspondence!
New corruption allegations against World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam
Is he the most corrupt official on the planet? He distributed bribes using funds from OCA and ANOC. He supported Kirsty Coventry's election as IOC president. This weekend, he is hosting OCA's GA. He is trying to save himself by negotiating the 2036 and subsequent Olympics between Qatar and India.
We are family: how Modigarchs place their offspring in Olympic sport
Shortly after Nita and Mukesh Ambani successfully supported the enthronement of IOC president Kirsty Coventry, their busy daughter Isha was given a board position in the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). Another small step towards the Ambani Games in 2036.
What you need to know about Germany's so-called Olympic bid
I have been asked by IOC members and leading officials from Olympic IFs what this alleged German bid is all about. So I thought I should provide this information to thousands of non-German readers. To put it bluntly: Germany's so-called Olympic bid is, unfortunately, still a laughing stock.
Twilight of the gods: the IHF pharaoh has a presidential challenger
Is the era of Hassan Moustafa as president of the International Handball Federation (IHF) coming to an end after a quarter of a century? Today, the largest national federation nominated a rival candidate: Gerd Butzeck. However, Moustafa will have home advantage at the election in December.
A global agency to fight crime in sport, or: squaring the circle
Play the Game published a paper for an entity called ClearingSport. On the one hand commendable, on the other hand, after a variety of consultations, core problems are only insufficiently described in it. Compromises beyond recognition. Can an agency be forced on the sport system ruled by the IOC?
Time to Say Goodbye: a letter and a song for the most popular Olympic Sheikh ever
This newsletter is exclusively for you, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. You are no longer an IOC member – not even one suspended. You have not been a member at all since the closing of the 144th session. Allow me to look back, respectfully, on the many years we spent together.
Act, Madam President-elect! Act, dear readers.
The 144th IOC Session has come to an end. And because it was so pleasurable in the luxurious Greek resort, the IOC decided to return to the next luxury resort for the 2027 session: the Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort, Spa & Casino, Punta Cana. Money is no object, after all.
Tommy's Girl (2): President-elect Kirsty Coventry
The first female president in the 131-year history of the IOC is Kirsty Coventry, a 41-year-old two-time Olympic champion from Zimbabwe. Kirsty Coventry is the president Thomas Bach wanted. Because Bach is convinced that Coventry is the best person to administer his legacy.