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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 13h

With the breaking news about Manchester City's cheating, I think its time to make all of you aware of this group of people! The City case underlines the value of persistent investigative journalism. Great initiative by @philippeauclair.bsky.social go.bsky.app/6oxTr7j

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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 23h

Reading the independent report into Man City's financial "arrangements" now, stopping after every paragraph, saying "Jesus"..."JESUS!"..."Holy fuck!" and again. This is beyond anything anyone imagined. Also started to wonder whether criminal proceedings are in the picture now.

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Nick Harris @sportingintel.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

This speech is about Man City and their cheating, and it's from 2022, and fast forward to 13 mins on the video to see the start

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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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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Much of what we know about the darker sides of international sport came to light because journalists kept asking questions. If you believe sport needs independent scrutiny, please consider supporting the Play the Game Journalism Fund. 👉 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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Hannah Borenstein @hborenstein.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Some new words from me

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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

“A moving beast” The odds are moving fast. Hannah Borenstein – anthropologist and assistant professor of Global Sociocultural Studies at Florida International University – examines who bears the risk and who sets the rules www.playthegame.org/news/betting...

playthegame.org

Gambling's wild run through athletics

The odds are moving fast. Hannah Borenstein – anthropologist and assistant professor of Global Sociocultural Studies at Florida International University – examines who bears the risk and who sets the ...

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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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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Aston Villa’s Visit Rwanda deal is about much more than a shirt sponsor. In this episode, I look at how Paul Kagame’s Rwanda has used sport to shape its international image – and bring in the voice of Carine Kanimba on what that image can push aside. 🎧 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm

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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

🎙️The Play the Game Podcast is for everyone interested in what happens when sport meets power. We already have episodes on FIFA, Qatar 2022, betting, Trump, World Cup impacts, and independent oversight. I hope you will listen and subscribe 👇 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm

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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Whenever outsiders expose what sport’s own safeguards missed, world sport reaches for another band-aid reform. Play the Game calls for a permanent independent oversight to protect the sports we love. 🎧 play-the-game-podcast.captivate.fm 📰 playthegame.org/news/fifa-s-...

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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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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

48 hours after his release, Qatar 2022 whistleblower Abdullah Ibhais was blocked from departing Jordan to testify in U.S human trafficking case related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Attached is a Press Statement by his attorney Aaaron Halegua!

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Peter Brüchmann @bruchmann.nu · 09/08/2026

Vi har fået lov at bringe denne i vores kanal. Det er @staniselsborg.bsky.social, der på 45 minutter fortæller den fulde historie om Gianni Infantino. Det er det bedste portræt, jeg har hørt om et årti med den 'pæne embedsmand fra UEFA' der skulle 'restore' FIFA open.spotify.com/episode/3qVU...

open.spotify.com

JENNINGS EKSTRA: Infantinos årti som fodboldens enehersker

Mediano · Episode

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Martin Calladine @uglygame.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

There is always something of the Tony Soprano about Infantino when he's criticised - all self-pitying and tetchy. Why are people making such a big deal about such a small mistake? Don't they realise how much pressure he's under? Why aren't people celebrating him and being grateful for all he does?

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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

FIFA closes ranks: it admits “mistakes”, but no one takes responsibility. It promises a review while clearing itself in advance, and warns it will not tolerate “attacks” on its integrity. This is not accountability. It is FIFA clearing itself and warning its critics to back off.

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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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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Weighing in on BBC News this evening after an extraordinary week in football politics. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has withdrawn his commercial proposal, while UEFA has declared that it has lost confidence in his leadership. The proposal is gone. Infantino's leadership crisis remains.

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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

A lot of attention ok FIFA these - not least due to the excellent work by journalists. They do it everyday. All year. To follow the great journalists who write the most important stories on football, check out this group! Great initiative by @philippeauclair.bsky.social go.bsky.app/6oxTr7j

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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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Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

In a week of incendiary statements, this from Kevin Lamour, who at least for tonight remains FIFA COO, is incredibly damning in that it is from an insider that goes beyond this one scheme and is an assassination in a few hundred words of the FIFA president as a leader of global football.

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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Breaking: Via @martynziegler.bsky.social Incredible. FIFA has reportedly circulated a briefing on expanding the World Cup to 64 teams, with a decision expected by August 14. As FIFA seeks outside investors, it’s fair to ask: who benefits most from creating even more commercial inventory?

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Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

As the ship sinks, everyone will try and build their own story, a narrative for why what has happened should never have happened. But figures like Cordeiro and some of these national and regional football leaders have enabled this behaviour for quite some time. Their roles will have to be considered

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James Austin @jamesdaustin.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Including this, then immediately following it with bulletpoints about how they'll sell football is top level public statementing

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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Very interesting development. • FIFA acknowledges and respects feedback and concern aired in public • FIFA reaffirms its commitment to an open and democratic consultation • Erroneous reporting in the media disrupted planned consultation process inside.fifa.com/organisation...

inside.fifa.com

Clarifications on FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal

We have heard the feedback provided by the respective confederations in relation to the proposed establishment of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) and would like to address the issues that have surfaced ...

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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Live on BBC… More to come in the following days.

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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 · 30/07/2026

Extraordinary development. “No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety…” Via @martynziegler.bsky.social

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Stanis Elsborg @staniselsborg.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Sophia Cali and Ali Walker on whether Qatari Nasser Al-Khaleifi could emerge as a candidate to succeed Gianni Infantino as FIFA president 👉 www.politico.com/news/2026/07... For more background and the role he plays in securing Qatar’s grip on world sport 👉 www.playthegame.org/news/euro-20...

politico.com

European soccer officials eye Qatari sports executive to challenge Infantino

Anger over FIFA’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup has pushed European soccer leaders to rally behind a potential challenger: Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser al-Khelaifi.

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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

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, is pushing FIFA to provide all of its records on its contacts with Trump, his administration and the Trump Organization, by August 9, 2026. Via @adamcrafton.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/747...

nytimes.com

Infantino requested to appear before House committee over Trump relationship

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Tariq Panja @tariqpanja.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

What a strange and angry post from the FIFA president. While preaching “love” he has come across extremely thin skinned and while at the same time attempted to downplay what has happened to Iran, fans denied visas, Omar Artan and the Balogun situations as normal. Like in a parallel universe.

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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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