A fascinating look inside the truly incomprehensible corruption inside FIFA. Many people are involved, so many names to keep straight as well as their regions. Hard to believe corruption this terrible was worth it, but hey, money talks. A shame FIFA will be dealing with a loss of faith for a long, long time.

As a soccer fan with an interest in finance, I found this book to be FASCINATING. Bensinger utilizes and engaging writing style that makes complex data and information easy to understand.

a patient and plainspoken exploration of the corruption at the heart of FIFA revealed when the North American representatives were tracked down by the IRS. a superb review of the process and some wonderfully dispassionate journalism that prefers to create a compelling narrative over a sensational one

I found this book about the investigation and eventual downfall of international soccer's governing body read more like a political and financial thriller than a non-fiction sports book. That isn't to say that I didn't like it - but it was certainly different, in a good way, than what I expected. Ken Bensinger's meticulous attention to detail and his writing style made this book one to enjoy, despite the intense detail and numerous characters. It certainly raised my eyebrows on more than one occasion and now a lot more of the complete picture has come together for why the surprise awards of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and 2022 World Cup in Qatar happened.

I wish to thank Simon and Schuster for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Bensinger takes you behind the curtain to follow the steps that law enforcement took to bring about the FIFA scandal that resulted in the prosecution of 18 official and the resignation of long-time FIFA president Sepp Blatter in 2015. Bensinger begins with Steve Berryman, an IRS agent who received a Google alert about Chuck Blazer, FIFA official mentioning the word bribery. From there, he began a forensic accounting investigation and joined with the FBI to unravel deep corruption at the highest levels of world soccer. The book details the investigation while maintaining a thriller level interest. Recommended for fans of soccer, but also of true crime and investigative narratives such as Manhunt: Unibomber.

This is not my normal type of book but it sucked me in with its investigative tone and attention to detail. I watch Saturday morning Premiership football with my husband and have watch World Cup matches in the past. I do not think prior to this nonfiction that I grasped the magnitude of FIFA and the power and financial impact it produces. The corruption was mind boggling and the facts were laid out by the author in an admirable way to help the reader digest a complex spaghetti ball of events.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC of this non-fiction title. This book, outlining the investigation into professional soccer corruption, was fascinating. It wasn’t hard to separate the good guys from the bad guys here and I found myself really rooting for the US law enforcement members that were tasked with unraveling a highly complex international operation. Score one for the good guys. I know I won’t be able to see any World Cup games this year without thinking about this book, and how the hosts were chosen. Highly recommend this book for crime fans, soccer fans, and general sports fans.

Ken Bensinger’s Red Card is an explosive look into the corruption scandal that rocked FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, and the entire sports world in 2015. In a book that reads like Eichenwald’s The Informant or Lewis’s The Big Short, Bensinger follows the threads of investigation into bribes used to control the sponsorships, broadcast rights, and ultimately the bids to host World Cup tournaments. The narrative focuses on Steve Berryman, an FBI agent with the drive, number know-how, and love of the sport needed to methodically pick apart the case. He is brought to the investigation when he catches wind of the possible buying of votes for the hosting bids of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. By following a decades-long money trail, he reveals millions of dollars of elicit kickbacks and a corruption that twists through all levels of the sport’s bureaucracy.

I was continually impressed with Bensigner’s writing. He slices the narrative effectively to create great tension and suspense. He also includes a short but important history of FIFA, which helps the reader see the evolution of the organization from its humble origins to a world-wide giant. His knack for fleshing out the colorful characters of the soccer world, especially Trinidadian Jack Warner and American Chuck Blazer, give you a full picture of the ugly excess these people were able to enjoy.

Bensinger’s Red Card has everything you could want in a book about scandal: moneyed power brokers who take from poor and give to the rich, strong lawmen and women who strive to right the wrongs, and a satisfying take-down in the end. This book provides a strong vote of confidence for the FBI and law enforcement everywhere. It is an excellent piece of journalism. I also have to note that I have never played a official game of soccer in my life, no youth leagues, no intramurals, no co-ed rec leagues. I don’t even remember the last time I kicked a ball, but I sped through this riveting book in just a couple days.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, and Mr. Bensinger for the advanced copy for review.