“FIFA is world-class when it comes to making money, but what happens next? If anyone can answer that question, it’s surely Alan Tomlinson.” — Brian Oliver, former sports editor of The Observer

“I’ve been reading Alan Tomlinson’s work for over twenty years. This new book is thoroughly researched and deeply insightful, and it underscores the many problems that still persist in today’s sporting world.” — Steven Berryman, investigator of sports corruption

“Professor Alan Tomlinson’s long-standing scholarly research has long served as a guiding light for those of us who seek to challenge the culture of secrecy and impunity within global football governance. This book offers a sober assessment of an organization that often falls short of the values it professes—integrity, fair play, and transparency. As someone who has personally experienced some of FIFA’s darker sides, I regard Alan Tomlinson’s latest work as both a warning and a call to action. If you care about the future of football, this book is essential reading.” — Bonita Merciadis, Fair Play Press

“FIFA sets the rules of the game, but in today’s commercialized environment, it does far more than that. The question this book poses is: should it?” — Stephen Wagg, University of Oxford

“This book provides a compelling and timely exploration of football’s most influential governing body. Drawing on his unparalleled expertise and keen investigative skills, Professor Alan Tomlinson delivers a rigorous, balanced, and insightful analysis of FIFA’s political dynamics, business strategies, and the ongoing challenges surrounding corruption and ethical issues. Raising pressing questions about integrity, fair play, and competitive fairness, this book is indispensable for anyone concerned about the future of football.” — Louise Mansfield, Brunel University London

★ Edited by George Miller, internationally renowned and bestselling editor of the “Very Short Introductions” series—a flagship general‑interest library published worldwide—former Editorial Director of Popular Books at Oxford University Press, and a distinguished translator and writer, this series has been meticulously researched and carefully crafted.

★ Highly recommended by leading scholars such as Sir David Cannadine, Professor at Princeton University and Series Editor of “The Penguin History of Europe”; Christopher Coker, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics; and Ron Deibert, Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto and Co‑Chair of the Information Security Committee.

★ Written by preeminent international experts in their fields, these volumes explore new pathways for our times and society, actively engaging with readers around the globe so that they can truly grasp and appreciate the possibilities for a better future. Among the expert authors are:
◎ Dr. Shinderpal Singh Bhui, Visiting Professor of Law at the Oxford Centre for Criminology and Head of the Inspection Team at Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (OBE);
◎ Dr. Jake MacDonald, Senior Lecturer in War Studies at King’s College London and an expert on ethics, law, technology, and warfare;
◎ Rhodri Davies, Pears Research Fellow at the Kent Centre for Philanthropy and Founding Director of the think tank “Charity Affairs”;
◎ Tim Stevens, a scholar of international security in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London and editor of the “Key Issues in Digital Security and Society” series, among others.

★ Engaging yet authoritative, these indispensable guides to the contemporary world once again uphold the principle of “highly accessible presentation,” offering readers concise, compelling, and thought‑provoking books that examine crucial facets of today’s global landscape and its trajectories. Each volume not only elucidates the historical roots and mechanisms behind its subject but also clarifies its purpose within our societies—and, above all, how it can serve more effectively.

★ Focusing on the most pressing challenges in the social, political, economic, and cultural realms of our era, this series goes beyond mere introductions, distinguished by its probing into the aims and implications of these issues while proposing solutions and charting paths forward. Its topics transcend disciplinary boundaries, extending from the social sciences to cutting‑edge fields such as artificial intelligence and biomedicine. At a pivotal juncture in humanity’s development, we must reflect deeply on the directions we take across all domains. This series extends a sincere invitation to readers, helping them think more thoroughly, efficiently, and with greater clarity about the road ahead.

★ The status quo is being disrupted. Today, humanity faces multiple, interconnected challenges, some of which may determine our very survival. If we believe the world can be different—if we aspire to make it better—then scrutinizing both what we do and what is done in our name has never been more urgent. This series examines the directions and destinations shaping several of the most vital spheres of the contemporary world, illuminating their nature through close observation, contemplating our future, and exploring how to purposefully forge a better one—thereby offering fresh perspectives on current debates, controversies, and challenges.

The series currently comprises 23 titles:
“What is Cybersecurity for?” (Simplified Chinese rights already licensed)
“What is Philanthropy for?” (Simplified Chinese rights already licensed)
“What is War for?” (Simplified Chinese rights already licensed)
“What are Animal Rights for?” (Simplified Chinese rights already licensed)
“What are Prisons for?” (Simplified Chinese rights already licensed)
“What are the Olympics for?” (March 2024)
“What is History for?” (Simplified Chinese rights already licensed)
“What is Vegetarianism for?” (June 2024)
“What are Museums for?” (Simplified Chinese rights already licensed)
“What are Zoos for?” (Simplified Chinese rights already licensed)
“What is Counterterrorism for?” (November 2024)
“What is Journalism for?” (April 2025)
“What is Monarchy for?” (April 2025)
“What is Humanism for?” (June 2025)
“What is the Welfare State for?” (June 2025)
“What is Drug Policy for?” (September 2025)
“What is Truth for?” (September 2025)
“What are Nuclear Weapons for?” (November 2025)
“What is FIFA for?” (March 2026)
“What is Immigration Policy for?” (March 2026)
“What is the Market for?” (June 2026)
“What is Anthropology for?” (September 2026)
“What is Space Exploration for?” (November 2026)

FIFA—This book offers a comprehensive examination of the powerful yet highly controversial governing body of the football world.
Football is the most popular sport in the world, a truly global phenomenon. As such, it attracts vast sums of money from advertisers, sponsors, and broadcasters, much of which flows to FIFA, the sport’s international governing body. Given FIFA’s controversial history, the very legitimacy of its existence is crucial to the future of the game.
Alan Tomlinson assesses FIFA’s successes, such as the remarkable growth of women’s football, as well as its failures and ongoing crises related to corruption and ethical concerns, and asks: What efforts will be required for FIFA to truly fulfill its mission of integrity, fair play, and the universal promotion of the sport?

Alan Tomlinson
Alan Tomlinson is Professor Emeritus of Leisure Studies at the University of Brighton in the United Kingdom and a pioneer of critical sports and leisure studies, integrating cultural studies with empirical fieldwork. Since the 1980s, when massive sums of money began flowing into FIFA, he has been writing extensively on the organization and has produced a substantial body of work on topics related to sport and leisure.

1. Introduction: FIFA—What Stakes Are at Play?
2. FIFA and the Emergence of Modern Football
3. FIFA and Its Members
4. FIFA and Its Commercial Partners
5. “Glossy Governance”: Investigating Corruption
6. FIFA and the Americas
7. Challenges and Constraints Faced by FIFA in Africa and Asia
8. FIFA and Women’s Football
9. Beyond the Reach of the Law?
10. Conclusion