Running head: BOOK REVIEW OF THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF FIFA BY DAVID CONN 1

Review of the Book the Fall of the House of Fifa by David Conn

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BOOK REVIEW OF THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF FIFA BY DAVID CONN 2

Book Review of the Fall of the House of Fifa by David Conn

In response to the rampant corruption in the world soccer governing body, FIFA

journalist David Conn gives an outstanding exposing of a well-concocted string of sham

activities. Modern football is full moral shortcomings with executive leaders at the core of every

indulgence. Conn’s manuscript is an elegant description beyond the imagination of recent

scandals at FIFA with Sepp Blatter and other football officials in full startling gear. Founded in

1904, FIFA was meant to organize matches between then European countries. England, with

self-supporting football culture, originally declined the invitation. FIFA was also able to

establish World Cup tournament rapidly absorbing football associations from most counties

across the globe. Currently, FIFA is based in Zurich Switzerland coordinating world soccer

events for both genders of varied ages according to Sofotasiou, Hughes & Calautit (2015).

Coon gives an exposition of FIFA top leadership from Rous who maintained a clear

leadership record restraining FIFA from political stances. Rous maintained that sports should

always remain uncontaminated from the outside world and forever remain people’s game. Joao

Havelange later on, successfully challenged Rous presenting himself shamelessly as a radical

game-changer. Unlike many other journalists, Conn is explicitly and judicious on how he

describes Havelange’s behavior coupled with a tainted successor, Sepp. Conn (2017) observes,

“Havelange did, without question, help himself to bribes”. Conn believes that Havelange played

a significant role in instituting a culture of partiality with reciprocating favoritism that helped

him keep the office for a quarter century.

Yet Conn again points out Havelange’s power-seeking, greed, and idealism that fueled

his decade reign. Havelange’s presidency led to an enormous expansion of the World Cup

together with Fifa’s huge income. This was a veneer of bribery involving European nations
BOOK REVIEW OF THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF FIFA BY DAVID CONN 3

solely to participate in World Cup tournaments. This kind of disentanglement tarnished FIFA’s

reputation, especially with the African and Asian countries. Havelange finally left office when

his bribe-taking milieu exploded.

Sepp Blatter remains the most interesting character of the book The Fall of the House of

Fifa with many chapters of malign dimensions of his reign at FIFA. Conn uncovers social-

political grafts densely written in pros of traditional investigative journalism. The material seems

startling yet with an exceptional elucidation of FIFA icon Sepp Blatter. By 2010, FIFA had

become a two-fade body issuing ever impressive public declarations as a global good. However,

inwardly the body had become “a totalitarian world of patronage and dependence” as Conn

(2017) retaliates. Death from within was outrageous decoupling popular corruption cases.

Conn argues that Blatter appears to be innocent with regards to corruption cases of his

predecessors. Essentially, Blatter must have been aware of crude corruption and probably used it

as a gate pass to secure his position. FIFA’s ethics committee finally unraveled Blatter’s

presidency that had been full of kickbacks and embezzling of funds for quite a long time. Despite

wider revelations concerning his dubious actions, Blatter remained in office for a good time

accrued to his interest in power afore personal development. Currently, there are several

investigations ongoing in Fifa house pertaining to corruption cases that Conn fearlessly

highlights in his book. Conn maintains that Fifa’s rottenness did set insignificantly from the top.

Fifa is a global soccer governing institution that demands proper administrative officers

beginning from the top leadership. Conn does underline that Fifa has been under the leadership

of self-centered voracious leaders has been on a tumble. Apart from the current president,

previous leaders maintain a spirit of consistency in lobbying of football activities worldwide.

Mismanagement of such an extensive body could not be unnoticed remarkably by

BOOK REVIEW OF THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF FIFA BY DAVID CONN 4

whistleblowers as of Conn who stands as an experienced and worldwide news reporter. Conn’s

illusions though are valid, still more evidence is lacking to substantiate his claims. Investigation

outcomes are yet to be released especially for Blatter’s reign period (Tomlinson, 2014).

Current Fifa president, Gianni Infantino is notably a declared reformer out to get Fifa

back to the old way-marks. Conn arguably presents him as a man of rational mental capability,

one who can spearhead Fifa to greater heights. Gianni is much far from his predecessors

performing excellently well. Very few grafts have been reported during his one-year tenure so

far. Conn, however, remains skeptical about his performance as he writes about clear similarities

of his work and those of Havelange and Blatter.

This book cumulatively, pills out series of betrayal upon betrayal including Conn’s

soccer idols from childhood World Cup tournament of 1974. He narrates of a German player

Franz Beckenbauer whom he describes as “Always upright and exquisite” soccer player (Conn,

2017). Notably, Franz is reported to have been found offering 1,000 tickets to Warner for the

2006 World Cup so as to be held in Germany. As a member of the Ethics Committee, Warner

takes up this challenge and stirs up a series of investigations. This later steered into copious

discoveries concerning dishonest activities of self-gratification within Fifa Executive

(Boudreaux, Karahan & Coats, 2016).

The Fall of the House of Fifa suitably fits into Conn’s extensive narration of internal and

external venality that led to the collapse of the powerful leaders. Havelange cascaded to nothing

as a result of bribery cases while Blatter while maintaining the spirit of dishonesty lasted only for

a while. Still, these leaders are highly viable for prosecution should there be a shred of eminent

copious evidence against them. Not until then, Blatter and his executive committee remain

unsafe as Conn comments that current investigations can take any course. Conn believes that
BOOK REVIEW OF THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF FIFA BY DAVID CONN 5

Fifa must be managed by leaders of clear conscious, future-oriented and those ready to inculcate

a spirit of uprightness in their leadership.

Still, there are gaps in this narrative with lacking first-hand reporting specifically form

those countries of little capability. These nations may have been insufficiently funded by Fifa

and therefore crucial information with regards to Fifa’s activities therein is missing. Again,

Conn’s effort to secure interviews with protagonists were mercilessly turned down. Nonetheless,

Conn concludes his narration with beautiful scenery of expansive interview in Fifa’s own

profligate hilltop restaurant at Zurich. Sepp Blatter gives a comprehensive report of his tenure

and uncomprehendingly reveals the cracks that led to his fall (Conn, 2017).
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References

Boudreaux, C. J., Karahan, G., & Coats, M. (2016). Bend it like FIFA: corruption on and off the

pitch. Managerial Finance, 42(9), 866-878.

Conn, D. (2017). The Fall of the House of FIFA. Random House. Retrieved from:

https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/arts/book-review/sports/fall-of-house-of-fifa-david-conn/

Tomlinson, A. (2014). The supreme leader sails on: Leadership, ethics and governance in

FIFA. Sport in Society, 17(9), 1155-1169.

Sofotasiou, P., Hughes, B. R., & Calautit, J. K. (2015). Qatar 2022: Facing the FIFA World Cup

climatic and legacy challenges. Sustainable cities and society, 14, 16-30.