Featured Article

Playing fair

Booting fraud from football



Football — the international sport, with strikers and goalkeepers — is beloved around the world, but in an intense game where professional teams compete for wins and financial survival, fraud is commonplace. Here’s a primer on the many schemes on and off the field and meaningful steps that football clubs and leagues could take to fight fraud in the sport.

During the 2021-2022 season, Manchester City Football Club (F.C.) had an audience of 786 million viewers and won its sixth title in England’s highest division, the Premier League. Since it came under new ownership in 2008, the club has won 17 trophies. But a dramatic announcement last year is now threatening the F.C.’s newfound success. In 2023, the Premier League charged Manchester City with 115 counts of breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules that require football clubs to provide accurate information about their financial positions. The reported violations, which allegedly occurred between 2009 and 2018, include failure to provide accurate reports on player and manager compensation. The case goes to trial this fall, and Manchester City is facing dire repercussions — the team could find itself relegated (demoted) to a low-level league. (See “Manchester City Annual Report 2022-23;” “Manchester City charged with breaking financial rules by Premier League,” by Katie Falkingham, BBC, Feb. 6, 2023; and “Full list of FFP charges against Manchester City,” by Graeme Bell, GIVEMESPORT, Jan. 16, 2024.)

Manchester City is only one of many football clubs around the world grappling with fraud. Numerous scandals throughout the years — including the international organization FIFA’s own history of scandal — continue to raise concerns about the integrity of the game. But there are measures that football organizations can take to address fraud in their teams and ensure a fair playing field for athletes and fans alike. (See “Fifa corruption crisis: Key questions answered,” BBC News, Dec. 21, 2015.) 


For full access to story, members may sign in here.

Not a member? Click here to Join Now. Or Click here to sign up for a FREE TRIAL.

Related Articles

Decoding AI and machine learning in banking

Whether you’re drawn into a case as a fraud examiner, an auditor, or a customer encountering identity fraud, understanding credit risk modeling within financial organizations is essential. This knowledge is crucial regardless of your role because it impacts how financial products, from bank accounts to mortgages and student loans, are managed and secured globally. Appreciating how financial institutions assess the risks tied to each customer — whether an individual or a corporation — is fundamental for anyone engaged with financial services. This understanding shapes how we perceive the safety and reliability of financial products that affect everyday financial decisions.

Detecting document fraud

Cases of document fraud, including check fraud, have exploded in recent years. The authors explain what’s behind the proliferation of this age-old scam and the modern technology CFEs can employ to stop it in its tracks.

Fact finder

Michael Horowitz, the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Justice, has earned a reputation as a straight shooter and an adept investigator. He talks about his latest role as chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, mistakes made during the disbursement of COVID-relief money, how to avoid a repeat performance of the resulting fraud fiasco and the importance of strictly sticking to the facts.