Soccer Leaks: a revelation, really?

This week has seen a new wave of revelations concerning the world of soccer. These files, which have been regularly leaked anonymously for some time now, generally shed light on tax fraud by famous players or obscure intrigues within various soccer bodies.

This time, the new evidence points the finger at Paris Saint-Germain, the French capital club bought by Qatar in 2011, and known to the general public for the staggering sums involved in some of its player transfers, in excess of a hundred million euros. They are accused of having invested nearly two billion over the last seven years. Theoretically against the financial rules in force - «the famous fair play financial» - the financial arrangements put in place were allegedly covered up by Michel Platini and Gianni Infanito, former UEFA President and General Secretary respectively.

Mediapart, which has published certain documents, also reveals that Nicolas Sarkozy proposed at the time to the Emir of Qatar to buy a club and a sports channel in France. In exchange, Michel Platini would ensure that the World Cup would be held in Qatar in 2022. A scandal, no doubt. But is it all that surprising, given the links between Sarkozy, Platini and Qatar, and the opacity with which decisions such as the awarding of a World Cup are made?

Another «earth-shattering revelation» about the club from the City of Light: the players receive an «ethical bonus» of up to three hundred thousand euros a month in recognition of their work. fans or take pictures with young people supporters. Indecent? Of course it's indecent. But what can you expect from a club with no culture or identity whose trademark is to buy players at exorbitant prices whose primary motivation is probably not love of the jersey?

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The latest question to hit the headlines in France reflects either collective hypocrisy or crass ignorance. Visit Soccer Leaks present Paris SG - once again - as a club that selects its players and potential recruits according to ethnic criteria. «Indecent and unacceptable» in the land of equality. And yet, this is a common and well-known practice, and one that is being condemned as if it came as a surprise. It's reminiscent of the discussions that took place in France in 2010, when the idea of introducing quotas was floated. Once again, nothing new, but rather a journalistic rehash.

As a Swiss observer, we can't help but think of the «eagle controversy» at the last World Cup, when two Swiss players of Kosovar origin mimed the Albanian eagle after scoring against Serbia. Some of the best minds in the Swiss Football Association took the opportunity to launch the debate on binationality and the (excessive) presence of young people from immigrant backgrounds in national teams, even going so far as to suggest that teenagers should renounce their second nationality when they are first selected. No surprises here, just sterile, pointless polemics.

These Soccer Leaks are therefore a non-event, and far from a shock to the soccer microcosm. Every observer, whether keen on soccer or not, is well aware of the endemic corruption present in the world of soccer. The «awareness» effect doesn't work, and people continue to perpetuate the system by «consuming» the sport. Every pseudo-revelation presented as a point of inflexion will only be a storm in a teapot as long as the system does not undergo profound change and the stakes are more political than sporting.

Write to the author: diego.taboada@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © Wikimedia CC 2.0 - Ungry Young Man