Elite sport has become victim to greed, corruption and politics

The true nature of sport is being overshadowed by corporate interference, poor management and corruption. Elite sport has become victim to greed, corruption and politics.

Elite sport has become victim to greed, corruption and politics. In the Preliminary Final in Sydney, Collingwood came from behind but lost to Sydney Swans. A week later, the Swins were defeated in the Grand Final by Geelong. Four men were charged with obtaining leaked information on which player would win the Brownlow Medal. One of them was an AFL umpire.

Football has become victim to greed, corruption and politics.

Rugby league is re-balancing away from its old-time base in Sydney. Next year there will be nine Sydney clubs playing eight from elsewhere, four of them in Queensland. There was an extra marketing drive around the State of Origin series in 2022.

Origin II was in Perth on 24 June. The referee gave a succession of penalties to NSW close on the try-line. A player was sin-binned for ten minutes. NSW won the game 44-12. Origin III will be played in Brisbane on 13 July. The NSW Blues lost the third game and the series at Brisbane, 22- 12.

The NRL Grand Final is on 2 October in Sydney. North Queensland Cowboys and Parramatta played a Preliminary Final at Townsville on 23 September. The Cowboys won the game, but the Penrith team won on the 2nd. Parratta's NRL Women's team also got to the Grand final and lost to Newcastle. Rugby league is trying to internationalise itself. Samoa lost the Cup Grandfinal to Kangaroos in England on 20 November. Jillaroo's won Women’s Cup earlier.

FIFA awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. The decision was criticised for human rights abuses and for the construction of the stadiums. FIFA head Gianni Infantino defended the decision.   He said the rights issues were distracting from the football. He also said he feels disabled and gay.

FIFA has become too involved in business and corruption. Millionaire players have criticised Qatar. Australia joined in with its players’ statement.

Elite sport has become victim to greed, corruption and politics. Dr Lee Duffield has served as ABC's European correspondent and an academic.