Red Card

Red Card investigates corruption and bribery in international soccer, focusing on the FBI investigation into FIFA. The book tracks key figures in soccer's governing bodies and the law enforcement agents who pursued them. Through a decade-long investigation, IRS and FBI agents uncovered networks of bribes, kickbacks, and money laundering that reached the highest levels of the sport. The narrative follows both sides: the soccer executives who built the schemes and the investigators who worked to expose them. The story moves between South American soccer confederations, Caribbean football unions, and the corridors of FIFA's Swiss headquarters. The financial crimes span multiple continents and involve hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal payments. The book reveals how international sports organizations can operate with minimal oversight and accountability, leading to systemic corruption. The cultural and economic forces that enabled FIFA's practices serve as a case study in institutional failure and the challenge of policing global organizations.

Readers call this an engaging investigation into FIFA corruption that reads like a crime thriller. Many note how Bensinger breaks down complex financial schemes into understandable segments while maintaining narrative momentum. Liked: - Clear explanation of the FIFA investigation process - Strong character development of key figures - Detailed paper trail showing money flows - Fast pacing despite dense subject matter Disliked: - Some readers found early chapters confusing with many names/organizations - A few felt certain sections became too technical - Limited coverage of FIFA activities outside the Americas Ratings: Goodreads: 4.14/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (250+ ratings) Representative review: "Bensinger has produced a thorough and compelling account of how U.S. law enforcement methodically built their case. The book excels at showing both the broad scope of corruption and the specific details that brought it down." - Goodreads reviewer

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🎯 Author Ken Bensinger spent nearly three years investigating and researching the FIFA corruption scandal, conducting over 100 interviews in multiple countries. ⚽ The book's revelations stem largely from Chuck Blazer, a 450-pound soccer official who became an FBI informant while using a motorized scooter to record his colleagues' incriminating conversations. 💰 The FBI investigation detailed in "Red Card" uncovered more than $150 million in bribes and kickbacks among FIFA officials over a 24-year period. 🏆 The scandal exposed in the book led to the arrests of 14 FIFA officials, the resignation of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, and the most significant corruption cleanup in sports history. 🔍 Before writing "Red Card," Bensinger was part of the BuzzFeed News investigative team that first broke the story of Russian doping in international sports.