With the recriminations well underway following England’s unsuccessful and much hyped bid to host the 2018 FIFA Football World Cup, the FIFA Executive would be well advised to read More Than Just A Game, Football v Apartheid by Chuck Korr and Marvin Close.

Although FIFA claims to act in the best interests of world football, the story told by Korr and Close celebrates bravery and heroism, two virtues that sport (and football in particular), can provide in its power to unite people in the fight to overcome adversity. Yet, those at the helm of FIFA have lost sight of these virtues merely viewing the game as a commodified product, whilst many involved in the voting procedures that determine the hosting of the World Cup venue have benefited substantially from FIFA’s dubious commercial activities and the denial of transparency concerning its operations.

Those critical of the role of the media in supposedly undermining the English bid also need to reflect on their conduct since the transmission of the Panorama documentary. Elements of the British media are not guilty of unpatriotic behaviour as some may suggest, in reality they have played a key role in seeking to expose the enormous irregularities of one of the most powerful governing bodies in contemporary sport. The critics would also benefit from reading the aforementioned text.