An IRS agent uncovers a trail of embezzlement in an American soccer official’s transactions, the FBI investigates bribery allegations surrounding the World Cup bidding process, and a massive, international corruption scandal explodes in the heart of the world’s most beloved sport.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Yesterday
Was 'The Battle of the Sexes' Fixed?
On September 20, 1973, tennis star Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in “The Battle of the Sexes,” notching a victory for feminism, women’s athletes, and societal equality. In America’s collective memory, the iconic sporting event was on the up and up. But what if Riggs, a ma ... Show More
47m 25s
Jul 22
Rewind: The Denver Airport
This July, we’re revisiting five classic topics in our Conspiracy Theories: Rewind series! Denver International Airport is said to be holding more than planes and luggage. It’s home to apocalyptic artwork, Freemason imagery, and even a literal murderous 32-foot-tall horse. And be ... Show More
48m 36s
Nov 2022
Scammers, Traffickers and Bribes: The Dirty, Criminal Secrets Plaguing FIFA’s World Cup in Qatar - featuring Philippe AuclairDraft Episode for Nov 29, 2022
As things heat up in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Sean meets soccer journalist Philippe Auclair in a London pub (of course) to talk about the many crimes stalking the Beautiful Game—from bribery and fraud within FIFA, to the covered-up deaths of workers in Doha, and crypto a ... Show More
1h 10m
Jun 2018
Has Putin Fixed the World Cup?
A few years ago, a chance encounter between Christopher Steele, of the now-famous Steele Dossier, and an FBI agent who was working on a gambling case at Trump Tower, opened the door to a multi-year investigation into the massive corruption taking place at FIFA, the soccer federat ... Show More
1h 17m
May 2023
#370 | FIFA: The Most Corrupt Name in Sport
It's the official body responsible for regulating the world's most popular sport, but it is regularly accused of corruption. In this episode, we'll look at why this is, some of the biggest scandals in FIFA history, and see what the organisation is doing to clean itself up. Sepp B ... Show More
21m 49s
Oct 2022
World Corrupt Episode 1: A Toxic Love Affair between Politics and Sports
This fall, when the eyes of the world turn towards Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a shadow looms over the tournament, which is one of the most watched events in the world. The sports landscape being co-opted for geo-political and corporate gain is nothing new, but this year's ... Show More
46m 37s