<blockquote>So it is sad that the tournament begins under a cloud as big as the Maracanã stadium. Documents obtained by Britain’s <em class="Italic">Sunday Times</em> have allegedly revealed secret payments that helped Qatar win the hosting rights to the World Cup in 2022 (see <a href="http://www.economist.com/news/international/21603469-new-light-being-shed-choice-qatar-host-footballs-biggest-event-2022">article</a>). If that competition was fixed, it has company. A report by FIFA, football’s governing body, is said to have found that several exhibition matches were rigged ahead of the World Cup in 2010. And as usual, no one has been punished.</blockquote>
via <a href="http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21603433-football-great-sport-it-could-be-so-much-better-if-it-were-run-honestly-beautiful-game">Football: Beautiful game, dirty business | The Economist</a>.