Short description
Who controls soccer in Britain today? The shocking reality is that organized crime is moving in quickly and violently, claims this Sunday Mirror journalist. His book charts his in-depth investigation into the sinister underbelly of modern soccer, from which he lays out his sensational evidence.
Long description
Who controls football in Britain today? The FA? The clubs? The fans? The shocking reality is that organised crime is moving in more aggressively than a Wayne Rooney tackle and there's little the authorities can do about it. "Football and Gangsters" is an explosive in-depth investigation into the sinister underbelly of modern soccer. It exposes the new phenomenon of 'taxing' - a protection racket in which villains force young, highly paid Premiership stars and their agents to hand over cash under threat of injury and death. Michael Owen, Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Fowler are just some of the stars who have fallen foul of the game's godfathers and paid the price. Their horrific stories are revealed exclusively here. The book also addresses the wider influence of organised crime in football. It reveals how drug dealers launder money by buying clubs, highlights the influence of Asian betting rings and unveils the hooligan gangs who have muscled into big-time crime and the boardroom.;Through a series of dangerous undercover investigations, along with interviews with players, club officials, police and the underworld figures responsible, the sensational evidence is laid bare for the first time in "Football and Gangsters."
Review
Loyal followers of the Beautiful Game will be astonished by some of the revelations in this fascinating book, which spreads the net far and wide without being bogged down in evidence-related detail.
- Programme Monthly
From the Trade Paperback edition.