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Play the Game

@playthegame-org.bsky.social
620 followers 78 following 182 posts

Play the Game is an initiative promoting democracy, transparency, and freedom of expression in world sport💥 #goodgovernance #ptg2025

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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
It's never been more important - and urgent - to support investigative sports journalism and, to do this, @playthegame-org.bsky.social has set up a new initiative, which I hope many of you will contribute to. Spread the word, and help us protect sport and the values we believe it should represent.
playthegame.org
Journalism Fund
Through public support, the Play the Game Journalism Fund fund enables Play the Game to commission freelance journalists and researchers to produce independent, investigative, and analytical journalis...
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Long before this week’s ruling that Man City broke Premier League rules, investigative journalist Nick Harris was following the money behind its sponsorships🔎 Our new podcast replays his 2022 PtG talk on a documented history of controversy🎧👇🏼 www.playthegame.org/news/manches...
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Sven Daniel Wolfe @sdwolfe.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
This was a fun conversation. Thank you for having me!
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
More than 10 years ago, @sdwolfe.bsky.social's work on the 2014 Sochi Olympics helped shape my own research on sport and politics. Now we finally sat down to talk mega-events, political power and the hard edge of soft power. 🎙️ New Play the Game Podcast👉 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
🎙️ New podcast episode: Sven Daniel Wolfe on sporting mega-events and the hard edge of soft power. From Sochi to World Cups and Olympics, we discuss power, image, security – and what remains when the spotlight disappears. 🎧 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Independent journalism helps hold sport to account. The Play the Game Journalism Fund supports journalists investigating power, governance, integrity, and accountability in international sport. All donations go directly to those writing the stories. 👉 www.playthegame.org/journalism-f...
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
"Can I let my friends know if I feel great?" An athlete asking Play the Game where the line falls, now that people can bet on him. As the first World Athletics Ultimate Championship opens in Budapest, gambling is arriving in athletics faster than the rules. www.playthegame.org/news/betting...
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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
This investigation by @stevemenary.bsky.social, @samindrakunti.bsky.social, @matthijsvndam.bsky.social of @trouw.nl, Jack Kerr and I was produced in conjunction with @playthegame-org.bsky.social, for whom we visited Curaçao's capital Willemstad. This is what we found there.
playthegame.org
The island that drives the world's illegal betting
Curaçao sells cheap licences to offshore operators that routinely take bets in countries that never authorised them.
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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
If you're an illegal betting operator looking for an offshore licence, there's Curacao, but there's also Anjouan now, part of the Comoros, which I wrote about for @playthegame-org.bsky.social. Introducing Ron Mendelson, the Vancouver carpet-seller turned licence provider to illegal casinos.
playthegame.org
The enabler behind Anjouan’s offshore licensing
Canadian entrepreneur Ron Mendelson has built a central role in the fast-growing offshore licensing market. He embodies a, where licensing bodies set up in small and poor countries are overwhelmingly ...
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Sport cannot solve its integrity problems alone. And governments should not run sport. In a new opinion piece, Jens Sejer Andersen and I respond to former Danish NOC president Niels Nygaard’s criticism of Play the Game’s proposal for ClearingSport. idraetsmonitor-dk.translate.goog/nyheder/deba...
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
“Human rights abuses can be overlooked if the check is big enough.” 🎧 Listen to the Play the Game Podcast in your app of choice👇 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Curaçao doesn't just host the offshore betting industry. It powers it☝🏼 617 licences. More than 10,000 betting sites. Fewer than 30 staff to police them🚨 Read Play the Game’s full investigation, directly from Willemstad👇🏼 www.playthegame.org/news/the-isl...
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
🎙️ New Play the Game Podcast episode: Visit Rwanda: From Arsenal to Aston Villa and the sports politics of Paul Kagame’s Rwanda A story about football shirts, global sport, political image-building, and the voices pushed aside. 🎧 Listen here👉 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
🎙️Have you subscribed to the Play the Game Podcast yet? Listen to stories and conversations about FIFA, Qatar 2022, betting, Trump and sport, World Cup impacts, online gambling, and why sport needs independent oversight. 🎧 Subscribe here 👉 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Play the Game calls for a permanent independent oversight to protect the sports we love 📢 Opinion piece by @staniselsborg.bsky.social & @jenssejer.bsky.social Listen👉 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm Read👉 www.playthegame.org/news/fifa-s-...
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
A group of girls in the Indian Sundarbans took up football – defying the stigma around showing their legs in public⚽️ Now the cyclones are taking it back, flood by flood. Climate change hits grassroots sport first. Ritwika Mitra reports 👇 www.playthegame.org/news/on-a-sh...
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Devastating news about Qatar 2022 whistleblower Abdullah Ibhais www.linkedin.com/posts/stanis...
linkedin.com
JUST IN: Just received these news from Abdullah Ibhais family: “FYI, from Abdullah Ibhais family. “Urgent and for Immediate Action. Abdullah Ibhais was abducted by the General Intelligence… | Stan...
JUST IN: Just received these news from Abdullah Ibhais family: “FYI, from Abdullah Ibhais family. “Urgent and for Immediate Action. Abdullah Ibhais was abducted by the General Intelligence Directo...
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Reposted by Play the Game
Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
Easily listen to Play the Game Podcast in your podcast app of choice
Quickly and easily listen and subscribe to Play the Game Podcast for free in your podcast app of choice.
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
This clip from Miguel Maduro is one of the key moments in our podcast on Infantino’s FIFA. In a minute, he explains why FIFA reform is so difficult – concentrated power, weak scrutiny, and a system that cannot truly reform itself from within. 🎧https://play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm/
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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
The wonderful news, via @staniselsborg.bsky.social of @playthegame-org.bsky.social, is that Qatar 2022 whistle-blower Abdullah Ibhais has been released from custody in Jordan and given his passport back. Abdullah is unbreakable.
linkedin.com
New developments: Just received the news that Abdullah Ibhais has received his passport. Hear his story in our opening episode of the Play the Game Podcast. Qatar 2022 whistleblower: Abdullah… | Sta...
New developments: Just received the news that Abdullah Ibhais has received his passport. Hear his story in our opening episode of the Play the Game Podcast. Qatar 2022 whistleblower: Abdullah Ibhais...
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
In our episode on Infantino’s first ten years at FIFA, Miguel Maduro explains why FIFA reform is so difficult: A political cartel with concentrated power. Too little independent scrutiny. And a system that can't truly reform itself from within. 🎧https://play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm/
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
How did we get here? This podcast looks back at Infantino’s ten years in power - and the decisions, alliances and governance failures. The podcast was only possible because journalists and whistleblowers spent years exposing how FIFA really works. 🎧 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Over the past week, Play the Game’s Stanis Elsborg and Jens Sejer Andersen have been highly active in the international debate, providing historical context and governance analysis as the crisis in world football has rapidly unfolded. Stanis reflects on Infantino's leadership crisis that remains👇
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Another extraordinary twist in what has already been an unprecedented week at FIFA. This time, one of the organisation’s most senior executives publicly turns on Gianni Infantino. Via @tariqpanja.bsky.social Story by @gdunbarap.bsky.social 👉 apnews.com/article/cord...
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Going live on BBC News in about an hour to discuss UEFA’s extraordinary threat to boycott FIFA competitions over FIFA’s proposed commercial restructuring. www.uefa.com/news-media/n...
uefa.com
Statement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 national associations
UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions.
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Ten years of Infantino. What has changed at FIFA? Three takes in three languages: 🎧 German: www.deutschlandfunk.de/behind-the-g... 🎧 English: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/s... 📺 Danish, with English subtitles: www.dr.dk/drtv/episode...
deutschlandfunk.de
Behind The Games - Wer den Sport kontrolliert
Seit zehn Jahren ist Gianni Infantino FIFA-Präsident und dabei so mächtig wie kein Fußballfunktionär vor ihm. "Behind The Games” blickt tief in das raffinierte System Infantino und erzählt bisher unbe...
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Uefa has reacted furiously to @martynziegler.bsky.social’s report that Fifa president Gianni Infantino is planning to sell stakes in the men’s World Cup to investors. On BBC tomorrow morning on this matter. www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...
independent.co.uk
Uefa furious over reports Fifa plans to sell stakes in World Cup
Uefa has reacted furiously to reports Fifa president Gianni Infantino is planning to sell stakes in the men’s World Cup to investors.
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Read this sharp piece by @adamcrafton.bsky.social from @nytimes.com 👇 Then, for the wider context, listen to or read my examination of Infantino’s ten years in power. The section below could hardly feel more timely. 🎧📰 www.playthegame.org/news/infanti... 📰 www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...
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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
New for @josimarfootball.bsky.social: an op-ed by @staniselsborg.bsky.social, Head of @playthegame-org.bsky.social - the World Cup legacy Fifa does not want to talk about.
josimarfootball.com
The World Cup Legacy Fifa Does Not Want to Talk About - josimarfootball.com
The final will crown a champion, but the 2026 World Cup's true legacy lies far from the pitch.
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
🎙️ Have you listened to the Play the Game Podcast yet? The idea is simple: to give space and a longer life to the voices, stories, and debates about the people, powers, and politics shaping sport. These are the episodes we have published👇 Subsribe👉 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
The World Cup Legacy Fifa Does Not Want to Talk About In his latest op-ed for @josimarfootball.bsky.social, Play the Game’s @staniselsborg.bsky.social reflects on the broader legacy of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and why independent scrutiny remains essential. josimarfootball.com/2026/07/17/t...
josimarfootball.com
The World Cup Legacy Fifa Does Not Want to Talk About - josimarfootball.com
The final will crown a champion, but the 2026 World Cup's true legacy lies far from the pitch.
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
🎙️New Play the Game Podcast episode Investigative journalist Lindsey Kennedy exposes the dark side of online sports betting in Southeast Asia. Scams, forced labour, human trafficking, organised crime, and links to football sponsorships! 🎧Listen👉 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
1/🧵 FIFA says its judicial bodies are independent. Yet the decision to waive Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension was reportedly taken by one man alone. So who is Mohammad Al Kamali -and how independent has his own institutional background been? www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...
thetimes.com
Only one official involved in decision to waive Folarin Balogun ban
Mohammad al-Kamali, the chairman of Fifa’s disciplinary committee, made ruling without any of the 17 other members asked to be involved in the case
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
This World Cup has shown why journalism in sport matters! A few weeks ago, we launched the Play the Game Journalism Fund to support original and investigative journalism on integrity issues in sport. Help us fund journalism that holds sport to account👉 www.playthegame.org/journalism-f...
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Reposted by Play the Game
Cristian Canțâr @cristiancantir.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
In light of Trump's corrupt red card interference at the World Cup, highly recommend this Play the Game podcast about Infantino's FIFA, which covers lots of things, including his ties to Russia and Qatar and the various corruption accusations.
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
The International Cricket Council distributes tens of millions of dollars per year in development funding through a system insiders say is loosely monitored and easily manipulated. Peter O’Brien reports for Play the Game. 👉 www.playthegame.org/news/greed-a... @pobjourno.bsky.social
playthegame.org
How cricket's 55 million USD development fund gets gamed
The International Cricket Council distributes tens of millions of dollars per year in development funding through a system insiders say is loosely monitored and easily manipulated.
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
If reports are correct that the U.S. president, and/or people close to him, contacted FIFA’s leadership about a disciplinary case, it creates a serious integrity problem. Once again, journalist prove why they matter - the world should be applauding them. www.linkedin.com/posts/stanis...
linkedin.com
FIFA lifts US star striker Balogun’s red card suspension at World Cup after Trump calls Infantino | Stanis Elsborg
Regardless of one’s view of the original red card, the Folarin Balogun case raises much bigger questions about the process and governance issues. If reports are correct that the U.S. president, and/o...
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Maximilian Rieger @mjrieger.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Der ganze Artikel, wie sehr der Radsport mit fossilen Unternehmen verwoben ist, gibt es bei @playthegame-org.bsky.social. Da geht es auch darum, ob die entsprechenden Teams nächstes Jahr in ihren normalen Trikots antreten dürfen - dort herrscht nämlich ein Verbot für fossile Werbung.
playthegame.org
The petroculture peloton: part one
In this first article of a two-part investigation into cycling’s association with fossil fuel advertising, will the Tour de France’s arrival in the Scottish capital be the beginning of the end for Big...
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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
🎙️ Want to hear the recording of Andrew Jennings challenging FIFA’s communications director Walter de Gregorio in public? In our episode on Infantino’s FIFA, we play the archive audio from Play the Game 2011 - a tense exchange about FIFA and accountability. 🎧👉 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
In a two-part investigation for Play the Game, journalist George Timms examines cycling's deep entanglement with the fossil fuel industry🔎 Part 1👉 www.playthegame.org/news/the-pet... Part 2👉 www.playthegame.org/news/the-pet...
playthegame.org
The petroculture peloton: part one
In this first article of a two-part investigation into cycling’s association with fossil fuel advertising, will the Tour de France’s arrival in the Scottish capital be the beginning of the end for Big...
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
🎙️ New Play the Game Podcast episode! Ten years after Gianni Infantino promised a “new FIFA”, what kind of FIFA has he actually built? @staniselsborg.bsky.social looks back at Infantino's FIFA - a story about power, politics, and so-called ethics. 🎧 Listen here👉 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
FIFA President Infantino claims the 2026 World Cup will inject 80 billion U.S. dollars into the global economy! @fettitude.bsky.social argues the numbers do not add up – and for the USA, hosting could even end in a net loss. 👉 www.playthegame.org/news/the-80-...
playthegame.org
The 80-billion-dollar mirage: unpacking Infantino's World Cup maths
FIFA President Infantino claims the 2026 World Cup will inject 80 billion U.S. dollars into the global economy. Economist and fact-checker Matthias Fett’s analysis for Der Spiegel argues the numbers d...
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
🎙️ New Play the Game Podcast episode! Investigative journalist @karimzidan.com joins @staniselsborg.bsky.social to discuss how sport became part of Donald Trump’s political machine - from boxing, WWE, golf and UFC to FIFA, Infantino and the 2026 World Cup. 👉 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
🎙️ The Play the Game Podcast is already travelling further than we had imagined just two weeks in! Since launching, we have had listeners from 40 countries 🌍🙏🏼 More episodes are on the way☝🏼 www.playthegame.org/podcast/?utm...
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Illegal betting and match-fixing are escalating in Mexican football. These activities serve as conduits for money laundering, enabled by weak regulation and a legal framework that has yet to criminalise match manipulation in Mexico Read the full investigation👇 www.playthegame.org/news/the-dea...
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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
I thought it'd be a swell idea to create a starter pack of journalists who specialise in throwing light on the dark(er) side of football. It's small for two reasons: there aren't many of us; and I've probably forgotten plenty of excellent people. Thank you for suggesting additions in replies.
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
🔎 A Deutsche Welle investigation into the disappearance of Belarusian sports activist Anatol Kotau renews focus on repression of the country's athletes. In a comment, Jens Sejer Andersen asks: did the IOC consider this before lifting restrictions on Belarus? 👇 www.playthegame.org/news/news-ab...
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Who holds sport to account❓🤔 Today, we launch the Play the Game Journalism Fund – a new initiative to support independent journalism that investigates power, governance, integrity, and accountability in international sport✍🏼 Read more👉🏼 www.playthegame.org/news/play-th...
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
🎙️ New Play the Game Podcast episode! Monika Streule takes us to Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara, where World Cup projects collide with struggles over water, land, housing, and the environment. 👉 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
🎙️ “FIFA and Qatar tried to break me” In the opening episode of the Play the Game Podcast, Qatar 2022 whistleblower Abdullah Ibhais speaks about prison, pressure, media control, FIFA, migrant workers, and the global politics behind Qatar 2022. 👉 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm
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