The IOC and the Olympic federations are obliged to do much more to punish Russia and its warmonger, Vladimir Putin, argues investigative reporter Jens Weinreich and provides a long list of examples. He calls for a comprehensive independent criminal investigation of the longstanding deep connection of the Olympic institutions with the Kremlin within the framework of the EU.

An outside investigation of sexual abuse of female football players in Afghanistan forced FIFA to adopt measures to protect children. But human rights experts argue that the self-professed football family is still failing to protect its weakest members as cases of abuse are exposed in all corners of the world.

Under what circumstances is it possible to imagine that one or more national football associations boycott the World Cup in Qatar? Matthias Fett lays out three scenarios and their consequences for FIFA and the associations and reaches the conclusion that the most likely boycott would happen in the US.

Sports governance worldwide has had the legs knocked out from under it. Yet, national and international sports administrators are slow in realizing the magnitude of what has hit them.

The recent election of South African Patrice Motsepe as new president of the Confederation of African Football shows how FIFA continues to meddle in African football politics leaving little hope of much needed reforms.

The combined U.S. and Swiss police raid on FIFA top men at Hotel Baur au Lac five years ago was a watershed moment in global sport. The impact has been undeniable, but how long will it last? Play the Game’s Jens Sejer Andersen shares his thoughts about the credibility of FIFA reforms.

Analysis: In 2013, then-FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke stated that “less democracy is sometimes better for organising a World Cup”. He reasoned that a “strong head of state” reduces organisational costs. Economist Matthias Fett looks at the numbers and tests this hypothesis.

With the AFC elections coming up, former official within the Australian Football Federation and insider turned whistleblower on the Australian bid for the 2022 World Cup, Bonita Mersiades presents the history and context surrounding the current president of the AFC who stands unopposed at the election.