THE INSTANT INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER 'Important perfectly timed and hugely necessary.' -
The Guardian 'Few books could be more timely than this forensic investigation.' - The
Telegraph 'Admirably Thorough and Persuasively Argued.' - The Irish Times ' A must-read on
how modern football works. ' - Ian Wright 'Brave forensic and utterly gripping.' - Tom
Holland ______________________________ The definitive account of how capitalism and the
world's elite corrupted modern football As 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. The
question had been asked who really owns and runs football? Journeying 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. From 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. Authoritative riveting and eye-opening States of Play
reveals how football has become a tool for the world's elite. ______________________________
' Delaney's diligence and determination to hold authorities to account is the moral compass
that the game needs. ' - Andy Brassell ' In this excellent investigation Delaney reveals the
ugly side of the beautiful game. ' - Oliver Bullough 'The most important football book of
its generation.' - Jack Pitt-Brooke ' An eye-opening and essential investigation into the
forces shaping the world's most popular sport. ' - Joshua Robinson & Jonathan Clegg ' This
book tackles the major issue affecting football today with fearlessness and forensic scrutiny .
An important investigation for our times. ' - Laurie Whitwell ' Majestic ... the essential
guide to how the people's game has become the plaything of the very rich and powerful. ' -
Jonathan Wilson Miguel Delaney's STATES OF PLAY was ranked in the Irish Times bestsellers
list w c 11th November 2024.
