Corruption In Sport: Corruption Is Everywhere Justified

Corruption In Sport: Corruption in Sport is Everywhere Justin Miller

Corruption in Sport: Corruption in Sport is Everywhere Justin Miller Texas A&M-Commerce Abstract In this essay I plan to inform you on what corruption in sport is, where it can be found, and how often. I have compiled research, as well as my own prior knowledge on this topic to write this essay. This essay will inform you of how important the topic of cheating in competitive sport has become, even though cheating has always been around, you see a lot of cheating continuously occurring especially in this century. Corruption in sport is a big topic, corruption in sport has been around since competitive sport has been around. There has always been cheating in sports, and there are various ways teams and individuals cheat to gain an advantage on one another.

For example, in January of 2015 the New England Patriots were accused of deflating 11 of their 12 game balls in the AFC Championship game that was played against the Indianapolis Colts. The deflated balls would have helped the quarterback, Tom Brady, and his receivers grip the ball better. The regulation-sized NFL football is rather big, so deflating the balls to make sure that things such as fumbling and dropping passes are less likely to occur gives you an incredible advantage in the game of football, especially in the case of turnovers. If you look back on the stats of that game, The Indianapolis Colts turned the ball over three times, as opposed to The New England Patriots’ one turnover that came off of a Tom Brady interception.

You could say that if the Patriots did indeed deflate the footballs that game, in that instance it helped the Colts grip the ball better so that securing that interception was easier. Overall, the Patriots ended up winning the game; and possibly if the Patriots’ footballs were properly inflated then possibly there would have been more turnovers in favor of the Colts and the outcome of the game may have been different. In a journal published in 2015 by the European Sport Management Quarterly by Lisa A. Kihl, talks about corruption in competitive sports, in detail. The journal has information compiled from many outside sources.

The journal also focuses on how corruption in sports is viewed throughout society. I believe that this article is a strong, well written article that makes its point. Which is, that corruption occurs in sport all around the world and it is not something that can necessarily be stopped. Reading through this article I see that the author uses words like “sport corruption” and her entire article provided I believe that once you are done reading this article, you will have a good understanding of how much cheating actually occurs in competitive sport, and how easy it is for teams/individuals to cheat. Even at the highest levels of competitive sport.

Simply stating that depending on which side of the corruption you are on, you view it differently every time. If you are on the side which is being accused of cheating, or trying to cheat; you may not think much of it because you are doing (technically) what is best for you and your team even if you are not doing what is best for the team in the correct way. If you have ever been in a situation like this where you are the one cheating, typically if you get away with it, of course it is not a big deal. Being on the other end of this situation though, there are plenty of cases where those same people will do everything that they can to prove that the opposing team or another participant cheated if that means that they will benefit from proving that that was indeed what happened.

“European grassroots clubs from five countries were surveyed where match fixing was found to be a serious problem in grassroots football and instances reflected countries; level of general corruption. Organizational capacity factors contributing to match fixing included larger sized clubs, independent (football only) clubs, clubs with less formalized staff, and recorded lower levels of revenue diversification.” (Kihl, 2016) I told you about an instance where there was said to be football in the National Football League, above Kihl describes an instance where there is said to be “match fixing” issues in the European Football Leagues. Some of the larger clubs have known to be involved, proving once again that cheating will occur from the lowest of competition in competitive sport to the highest.

In conclusion, there is and always will be cheating within competitive sport. It would be extremely difficult to completely cut out all of cheating when it comes to someone trying to get the competitive advantage over someone else to win. Especially when talking about living in the generation that we live in today. In the world we live in today, no one wants to work for their success. If someone were to walk up to you and give you a bunch of money to live off of for the rest of your life would you take it? Most people would answer “yes” to that question, although I think about something like that in a different light. Yes, you may be rich and be able to get anything you have ever wanted but you did nothing to earn anything that you get? It may be cool to have a bunch of money lying around, although it would be that much more exciting if you could say that you earned the riches that you have. Sources Kihl, L. A. (2017). Corruption in Sport: Understanding the Complexity of Corruption (1st ed., Vol. 1, Ser. 1). European Sport Management Quarterly. Retrieved February 10, 2018.

Paper For Above instruction

Corruption permeates the realm of sports, manifesting in various forms across different levels of competition worldwide. From small grassroots leagues to the globally televised professional tournaments, cheating and unethical behaviors threaten the integrity of sporting contests. Understanding the nature, prevalence, and implications of corruption in sports is essential for fostering fair play and preserving the reputation of athletic endeavors.

At its core, corruption in sports refers to the manipulation of outcomes, illegal betting, bribery, doping, and other unethical practices intended to give certain teams, players, or officials an unfair advantage. These acts undermine the fundamental principles of competition—fairness, transparency, and respect for rules. One notorious example is the 2015 incident involving the New England Patriots. The team was accused of deflating footballs, thus making it easier for players, especially quarterback Tom Brady, to grip and control the ball, potentially influencing game outcomes. This form of cheating illustrates how subtle manipulations can confer significant advantages, subtly skewing results without immediate detection.

Research by Lisa A. Kihl (2017) highlights how corruption is a widespread issue even within grassroots football clubs across Europe. Her findings demonstrate that larger clubs with less formalized staff and lower revenue diversification are more susceptible to match-fixing. This suggests that structural organizational weaknesses contribute to corrupt practices, enabling dishonest activities to persist at various levels. Such systemic issues complicate efforts to eradicate corruption, as they often involve broader socio-economic factors and entrenched cultural norms.

The societal perception of sports corruption varies depending on one's position — whether involved directly or merely observing. Athletes or officials involved in cheating often rationalize their behavior, believing they are acting in their best interests or merely seeking an edge. Conversely, opponents and fans perceive such behaviors as a betrayal of fair competition and can lead to distrust and disillusionment among the broader sporting community. As noted by Kihl, match-fixing and doping distort the essence of sport and threaten its cultural significance.

Across different sports and countries, corruption manifests in numerous ways. In European football, studies have shown that larger, independent clubs with significant resources are more involved in match-fixing schemes. These findings challenge the assumption that corruption only exists in less developed sporting contexts, emphasizing that systemic vulnerabilities can exist at the highest levels of competition. Such involvement by top-tier clubs undermines the credibility of the sport and raises questions regarding regulatory oversight and governance.

Despite ongoing efforts to combat corruption through stricter regulations, monitoring, and sanctions, complete eradication remains elusive. Cheaters continually innovate, exploiting loopholes within the system. The difficulty lies in the human tendency to seek shortcuts to success, especially when the temptation of financial gain, fame, or personal incentives are involved. As the modern era tends to prioritize quick results and immediate rewards, the likelihood of dishonest practices increases.

From a psychological perspective, the motivations to cheat are often rooted in pressure to perform, fear of failure, or perceived unfair advantages. The sense of personal entitlement and societal acceptance of doping or gambling can further entrench corruption. Effective anti-corruption strategies require not only robust policies and technological surveillance but also cultural shifts that promote integrity and moral responsibility among athletes and officials.

In conclusion, corruption in sport is a complex and persistent phenomenon. It exists across all levels of competition and in diverse forms, from match-fixing to doping and bribery. The challenge lies in addressing systemic vulnerabilities, fostering a culture of integrity, and implementing effective oversight mechanisms. While complete elimination may be improbable, ongoing vigilance and comprehensive reforms are necessary to safeguard the core values of sportsmanship and fair competition.

References

• Kihl, L. A. (2017). Corruption in Sport: Understanding the Complexity of Corruption. European Sport Management Quarterly.
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• World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). (2020). World Anti-Doping Code. Retrieved from https://www.wada-ama.org.
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• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2019). Guidelines on Combating Sports Corruption and Match-fixing. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org.