Multiple ownerships, mega-transfers and a foot in the door at FIFA. Beijing’s bid for football power is a challenge to world soccer.
Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring a goal at Afcon 2017. He plays his club football in Germany for Borussia Dortmund.
Mike Hutchings/Reuters
The sheer number of top African footballers playing in foreign leagues is one of the most notable trends of the current Africa Cup of Nations tournament. It has an impact on the African game too.
From 2026 onwards there will be 48 countries in the final FIFA World Cup tournament instead of the current 32.
Reuters/Arnd Wiegmann
The main objections raised to FIFA"s planned expansion of the World Cup are that the decision has been made on financial and/or political rather than footballing grounds.
The presidents and commissioners of major sporting organisations such as the International Olympic Committee and FIFA have all been men.
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Women are still grossly underrepresented as chairpeople, directors or chief executives of international sporting bodies, to the great detriment of those sports.
Protests against the Rio Olympics must be understood in the context of the growing global reaction to both the way these mega-events are organised and the entities promoting them.
Bolivia midfielder Jhasmani Campos deflects a pass from Argentina forward Sergio Aguero.
Reuters
To celebrate 100 years of football’s oldest international competition, South American fans have flocked north, sticking two fingers up to Donald Trump.
As football grapples with numerous scandals, the Euro 2016 draw brings a welcome focus on the game itself rather than on the intrigue of its boardrooms.
A boy plays next to a football centre in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha township.
Mike Hutchings/Reuters