FIFA Uncovered is the latest documentary series released on Netflix on 9th November 2022. Directed by Daniel Gordon and produced by Miles Coleman & John Battsek, this investigative documentary series will uncover the scandals and behind-the-scenes of the sports organisation’s legacy and power struggles.
The series is released at a rather unique time, considering Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup is set to start on 20th November and the documentary questions the conspiracy and corruption behind choosing the host countries for the years 2018 and 2022. Since 2015, the integrity of the organisation has been questioned and the series will try to explore the intricacies of that.
-FIFA Uncovered Review Contain Some Spoilers-
For decades, FIFA united the globe through football. But behind the game, craftier schemes were at play. This documentary series traces the organisation’s legacy, exploring the pageantry, power struggles and politics of hosting the World Cup.
The series majorly focuses on Joseph “Sepp” Blatter – how he rose to power to the position of the President of the organisation, to the downfall and eventually getting banned from it. They briefly tell the viewers about how FIFA started in 1904 with Robert Guerin and soon introduce us to the seventh president João Havelange, who brought Sepp Blatter to work in the organisation.
Havelange’s presidential period brought FIFA from not having enough money for games and programs to brands trying to get their name associated with the organisation. And when you start playing with big money and fame, politics come round to get involved in that clout and make an image for themselves – also known as sports washing.
Be it, Hitler, trying to build a rapport with his Olympics presence in 1936 or contemporary politicians trying to appeal to the mass population, by associating with a popular sport like Football. There’s no denying that Football is widely popular in almost all countries and promises to bring in lots of money.
But nothing on earth is untainted by human greed and where millions of money is involved, you will find yourself surrounded by weasels. Initially, they wanted to be a force for good – bringing the developing nations to the forefront and giving everyone a fair chance. But the lines between right and wrong, blurred. Wire fraud, money laundering, racketeering and tax evasion and other things became associated with FIFA instead.
From João Havelange and Jack Warner to Sepp Blatter and Michael Platini, some of the most powerful men in football have been at the epicentre of corruption allegations. These allegations led to various football associations around the globe, and most importantly the fans, questioning the decisions behind awarding world cups to specific nations.
The documentary explores the controversies around the 2018 Russian World Cup and the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The decision was criticized by fans and Sepp Blatter as well, as Qatar didn’t have the infrastructure to accommodate a football tournament of this size. Also, the high temperatures made them postpone the game in the autumn/winter season for the first time.
Summing Up: FIFA Uncovered
It amazes me how these associations forget the real motive – the sports and the player, who make them what they are. And instead of creating a profitable system for everyone, they only want to pocket all the benefits for themselves. While you can’t eradicate corruption from anywhere literally, you can’t put the blame on a single person, for their toxic culture.
For all we know, FIFA will go on the way they are, unless someone revolutionary comes in and changes the whole system. Having law enforcement intervene might help for some time but in the long run, everyone has a price and they will get paid to work, according to the payers’ wishes.
FIFA Uncovered is currently streaming on Netflix.
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