Financial Transparency Coalition

Manchester United, the world renowned English football club, is facing hard times financially. Although the club’s world class reputation speaks for itself (19 championships and a home to scores of star footballers), the club still depends heavily on cash flow. In 2005, the Glazer family (also owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) bought out Manchester United from the London Stock Exchange for $1.47 billion, successfully taking on full ownership of the club (despite vehement public opposition.) Now, 7 years later, Man U is facing a massive debt crisis, according to the Associated Press.

The biggest sport in the world is football. Soccer, that is. Unfortunately, it also offers a paradigmatic example of the poisonous effects of a lack of financial integrity. There are a great many people with a stake in the outcomes of football – for example, the World Cup held in South Africa earlier this year has verified viewing figures of 715 million women, men and children (around one in ten of the world’s population), having been broadcast in 214 countries. The sport’s world governing body FIFA estimate there were 26 billion World Cup match viewings – enough for each...

Football is being used as a vehicle for money laundering, according to an agency responsible for tracking the proceeds of crime.