FIFA: Ballon rond et corruption

This documentary has dropped unfortunately too late for any effect on the upcoming, completely rigged World Cup in Qatar. This oil-rich country, who had no international football team when the "decision" was made is an absolute joke of a country. Completely sports-washed and voted for by a bunch of old men looking for a last ditch payday. Their lack of anything notable in sports, let alone football is STILL not even the main story, but their lack of human rights and terrible working conditions that have resulted in deaths of some people IS. These Arab princes should just stay away from the beautiful game and concentrate on their own issues. Stop trying to barge in to a market where you're not wanted. No wonder EA Sports have dropped the name FIFA from its own branding next year. They've definitely known this documentary was coming and want nothing to do with them.

This is a must see documentary even if you are not a futbol fan. Oh how greed can corrupt absolutely should be the subtitle for this film. Based on the book, "Red Card", it follows the evolution of FIFA from a non-for-profit steward of the world's beautiful game to a commercialized, money grabbing, pocket lining sham of an organization. It's top leadership, more interested in their own personal gain than helping to develop soccer in underdeveloped countries like Africa and Asia (one of its stated missions). This documentary helps to blow the lid off the deepest crevices of FiFA's illegal tactics.

More importantly, this documentary leaves the viewer with a broader lesson than just the corruption of FIFA. It explores "sports washing" - when authoritarian regimes with serious human rights abuses host large sporting events in hopes of cleaning up their image. From the Munich Olympics in 1936, hosted by Hitler to Russia and now Qatar hosting the World Cup sports lovers need to recognize how sports are being manipulated for political and economic gain. Qatar bought off FIFA so they could host - a country where women, LGBTQ, and minorities are treated like second class citizens. You will want to boycott this World Cup after watching FIFA Uncovered.

Perhaps if FIFA had paid strict adherence to its very own Rules and Parameters, more likely than not, this Documentary, FIFA UNCOVERED, would never have been produced and distributed!

First, let us focus on the The Title's content and context:

There must be at least a handful of You asking Yourselves.... And Exactly what does FIFA stand for? Well, let me offer my help. F. I. F. A. Stands for the name of the International Organization responsible for governing and supervising all International Soccer Football matches around the World! Since the original name is not in Engish, but in French, I invite You to look it up! It should only take 10 or 15 seconds, if knowing its original name is really that important to You! UNCOVERED explains carefully the origins and history of FIFA and exactly why its name is in French.

If I have now piqued Your interest, here is some great News for You: UNCOVERED will fill You in on the particulars of Sportswashing and its relation to QATAR very nicely... In a way that is guaranteed to quickly have You craving more! There is most definitrly no other Sport in the world that can compare to Football. (Need I remind You that outside of the USA and Canada, FOOTBALL means only one thing: Soccer Football.)

Immediately, upon seeing the Title: FIFA UNCOVERED, many friends have mentioned dropping what they were doing and beginning to watch! Considering that this Review, hopefully, will post just a couple days before the Qatar World Cup Final Match.,,Timely... Certainly seems to be the operative word in this case!

UNCOVERED clearly demonstrates the very highest production values in Documentary Filmmaking. It is a film that checks all the boxes. Watch and You will probably agree "Entertaining" should probably top the list. May I have the ENVELOPE Please!... FIFA UNCOVERED! Kept me mesmerized from opening frame to end credits. Even if You are not a huge Football or Sports fan... You will find it most enjoyable... Here, I am trying my very best to exlain exactly why!

Let me offer a clear example to substaniate the claim made above: When the subject matter of a Documentary is composed of events that occurred many years in the past... Quality Editing is absoluetly indispensable. Kudos to KEVIN KONAK! His Film Editing clearly demonstrates an uncanny sense of timing that keeps the viewer on the edge of their chair throughout the entire film! IMPECCABLE! I think would be my word of choice!

Since much of what is depicted on screen occurred 30 to 60 years ago, of course, old film clips, were often juxtapositioned with scenes that were produced very recently. These were all photographed in a way in which said contrasts in time were not in the least annoying nor unpleasant, as is so often the case. My hat is off to You, MICHAEL TIMNEY, for your truly Superb Cinemaphotography.

As regards the writing of the Narration dialog, Semantics and Tone should be absolutely spot on. Again, UNCOVERED hits the BullsEye in this category! So, let us give credit where credit is due. MILES COLEMAN...Exquisite is a term that seems to fit nicely!

Here is a Documentary that has something for everyone! From the diehard lifelong Football Fanatics who have watched several matches per week for decades, to the individual who has never watched any sporting event, of any kind. And just why would I say this? You are perhaps asking Yourself at this very moment. Well, UNCOVERED has been produced in a most thorough and meticulous way. It takes a very methodical approach to International Football, going back to its origins and emphasizing its longtime sportsmanlike amateur roots.

Sadly enough, however, the world of FIFA Football began its total implosion in 1974. Yes, it is now nearly 50 years ago that the mountains of cash being generated by International Football ascended into the Stratosphere! UNCOVERED does make one extremely key point absolutely crystal clear. That despite the cesspool FIFA began morphing into around the mid-Seventies, probably 99% of worldwide fans basically turned a blind eye. As long as the FIFA World Cup was carefully organized, scheduled and all of its games broadcast in practically every country in the world, it seemed that practically the entire world was composed of Happy Campers! The behind the scenes sordid corruption pervasive at the highest echelons of FIFA, was really nothing over which most Fans ever lost any sleep!

Soccer FOOTBALL had a squeaky clean image in my mind, until viewing FIFA UNCOVERED a few days ago! WOW! Talk about a Wake-Up Call! There are 2 things that I hope will happen as a direct result of this Documentary:

1) Many Millions of Football Fans around the world will be lucky enough to see it! And..... 2) All of us consummate fans can figure out something we can do to change a lot of the disgraceful goings on!

Some of the participants in FIFA World Cup games and activities undoubtedly have had at least some idea that there are, and have been, one Hell of a lot of very sleazy activities in which the Directors of FIFA have been involved, but which have been simply shrugged off as.... Well, where BILLION$ of Dollar$ are involved and Dozens of Countries partcipate and benefit handsomely... STUFF HAPPENS!

There are 2 important omissions in UNCOVERED. One which You might deem most appropriate: Although Mr. Josepp Blatter most certainly enriiched himself immensely owing to his position and involvement with FIFA... There is never any attempt to put an exact dollar figure on the total monetary benefit he received. Kudos for that Documentary Discretion!

The second omission must be chalked up as pehaps the only major shortcoming in the film itself. There should have been much more emphasis on the tremendous importance of the consistently augmenting presence of Both the USA, the largest market in the World for Sporting Events and in the lives of many Milllions of Americans throughout the past 1/2 Century!

Any Review of UNCOVERED would be incomplete without a standing ovation to the man who so masterfully blrnded a plethora of diverse elemnts together in his finished product, Director DANIEL GORDON. Your inspired Documentary truly speaks for itself!

Even if You are one of the minority who has very little or Zero interest in Football, I am sure that because of its importance to Billions of others on the Planet, You will realize the very special signifcance of the focus of this Documentary and appreciate its approach, tone and overall even-handness in tackling a subject (No Pun intended) which is near and dear to the heart of so many hundreds of millions of inhabitants here on Earth!!

So, no matter what Your personal opinion or realtion with Soccer Fotball happens to be, I am absoluetly convinced You will find UNCOVERED to be well worth every minute spent enjoying it!

You know you're dealing with a psychopath Blatter when he could smirk at every horrible event/deed - even if he's not personally involved in it, the nonchalance is chilling. And if he isn't, and he wasn't aware of any wrongdoings, the fact that things were happening right under his nose and he's ignorant of them all makes you question what kind of a leader he was.

And "I like the question" + smirk when asked about abuses and deaths of foreign workers in Qatar. Goodness. ICYMI, this is the same guy who's reported to have ambitions to win the Nobel Peace Prize via FIFA.

Perhaps what needs more probing is our unquestioning psyche. There are many corrupted and immoral institutions in the world, FIFA is hardly the only one, yet most of us keep letting it recur, turn a blind eye as long as we could consume something nice. Worse, once we sense that we could benefit from a corruption, we will potentially turn to the dark side in the blink of an eye. But I think as long as money is regarded as the only thing of true value in most societies, I'm not optimistic anything will ever change.

As we watch FIFA football/soccer games, and even play video games almost every day, the dirty corruption behind the scenes is deeper and more widespread than we thought.

In 4 episodes, this documentary offers a few glimpses: FIFA's blind eye to dictators exploiting the sport, exploitation of players, buying votes for chairman/location elections, exploitation of workers from developing countries... it's all very infuriating. By the 4th episode, you can't help but feel only a small bit of justice has been dealt.

There are lingering questions, however. The documentary seems to uncover the tip of the iceberg. But how were other World Cup locations decided, besides Russia and Qatar? Were the culprits limited to CONCAFA? (can't be) No famous players wanted to contribute to the documentary? So there are limitations to this documentary, and understandly so since corruption is usually very hush hush.

Still, it's a good wake up call that organizations with loads of money, unchecked power, and easily exploited representatives from poorer developing countries make for good corruption (and probably not limited to FIFA)