For years, reporters have been fond of saying “FIFA mafia”, “Mobsters of Football”. It has made for good copy, sold lots of media space – but what words do we use now that there really is a trial that focuses on the widespread criminal activity inside FIFA?

In a sensational session at Play the Game, FIFA’s new communications director, Walter De Gregorio, confronted Andrew Jennings during a session on corruption in FIFA and refuted the veteran investigative journalist’s claim that he was banned from the world body for his tough line on questioning corruption claims.

The newest scandal to rock the sport of sumo are the allegations of gambling and ties to the infamous Japanese mob, the yakuza.

Knowledge bank: Sandro Donati speaks at Play the Game 2005 about his cooperation for the National Anti-Mafia Directorate as representative of the Association Libera.

Knowledge bank: Declan Hill explains why the Russian mafia is attracted to hockey both in the former Soviet Union and abroad. He shows how organised crime figures deliberately targeted some of the top hockey players in the NHL and were able to socialise with them, to extort them, and in some cases to actually go into business with them.