The Fall of the House of FIFA | David Conn

The Fall of the House of FIFA: The Multimillion-Dollar Corruption at the Heart of Global Soccer

Extended Synopsis

In 2015, the multibillion-dollar governing body of the world's most beloved sport experienced a catastrophic collapse amid sweeping allegations of industrial-scale bribery, money laundering, racketeering, and tax evasion. The Fall of the House of FIFA delivers the definitive investigative account of this unprecedented implosion. Beginning with the dramatic early morning raids in Zurich and the subsequent indictment of twenty-seven executives by the US Department of Justice, journalist David Conn masterfully unravels the systemic rot that permeated the core of international soccer.

Conn meticulously details how this corruption extended into every corner of the sport, from the highly controversial decisions to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, to lesser-known but equally damaging embezzlement cases spanning from Trinidad to South Africa. Beyond the forensic accounting and legal drama, the narrative is anchored by revealing human portraits of soccer legends such as Michel Platini and Franz Beckenbauer, and features an exclusive interview with disgraced former president Sepp Blatter. Despite chronicling arguably the largest sports scandal in history, Conn infuses his reporting with a passionate, enduring love for the game itself, resulting in an irresistible and deeply resonant read.

Reader Targeting

• Football and soccer enthusiasts looking for a comprehensive understanding of the sport's global administrative mechanics and historical scandals.
• True crime readers and investigative journalism fans interested in complex white-collar crime, racketeering, and international law enforcement operations.
• Business and economics students or professionals focusing on corporate governance, ethics, and large-scale organizational corruption.

Author Biography

David Conn is a highly respected sports journalist and author known for his incisive investigative reporting on the intersection of sports, business, and politics. With a keen focus on the governance and financial structures of global football, Conn's rigorous analytical approach and passionate advocacy for the integrity of the game have established him as a leading authoritative voice in modern sports journalism.

Real Players Shop Bust-Down