The Black Book of Football

Hannu Aaltonen and Tapio Keskitalo

Original title: Jalkapallon musta kirja

Author: Hannu Aaltonen and Tapio Keskitalo

Published: 2022

Publisher: Otava

Genres: General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

Pages: 300

Reading material:

English sample & synopsis 

A critical depiction of the destructive power of money in professional association football

During the 2000s, international association football has become a pompous, money-driven business. ‘The Beautiful Game’ has developed into a playing field with its own laws where oligarchs, sheikhs, and American billionaires run amok.

This startling book delves into the outrageously wealthy and powerful football clubs that do not abide by football’s own economic rules. Influential football bosses and governing bodies have become bogged down in bribe scandals, while small football countries like Finland have to count pennies.

The grotesque development culminates with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where the authorities and organizers do not care about costs or construction worker deaths.

Hannu Aaltonen and Tapio Keskitalo go and take a multifaceted approach in going through the corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, bribes, manipulation of scores and illegal betting present in the sport. [--] The two journalists are doing important work as they find out who stole from the fans and the players.

Tommi Liljedahl in Kulttuuritoimitus magazine

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Rights sold:
FINLAND: Otava (orig.)
ESTONIA: Helios

About author

Hannu Aaltonen and Tapio Keskitalo

Hannu Aaltonen (right) works as an editor at the Finnish News Agency STT and is a football fan for whom football has been and is still a lifelong passion.

Tapio Keskitalo (left) is a sports editor for the Finnish News Agency STT who travels the world because of football, both for work and during his free time.

Bibliography


2022, General Nonfiction, Narrative Nonfiction

Hannu Aaltonen and Tapio Keskitalo

The Black Book of Football