What is clear from history is that people have deliberately sought to distort the result of sporting contests across many centuries.

The buying and selling of favours, the exceptional amounts of money that were swilling around, the sheer scale of the venality is a matter of public record at this stage.

Cryptocurrencies are also now the “official partners” of clubs and associations, including at Manchester City and AC Milan, and – inevitably – at FIFA itself.  

Some 400,000 people will attend the Indianapolis 500 – a 500-mile motor race that takes place every year and sees cars race each other at extraordinary speeds around what is essentially a huge saucer.

There are many who can walk away with grace after a defeat, but sometimes it’s easier to fashion a scapegoat. Referees offer ready-made scapegoats

Chelsea are about to be one of eight teams in the Premier League which are either wholly or partly owned by Americans.

A group of researchers have examined “the prevalence and the effect of injury” in British horseracing staff over the course of a year.

When Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte step into the ring Saturday night they sit at the apex of a sport that is both modern and pre-modern.

As well as serving as a broader answer to saving people from drunkenness and debauchery and other acts of impiety, there was also the ambition to use sport to recruit people to active engagement with religion. It made sense for religious organisations to involve themselves when sporting organisations were being founded.

There is much to admire in the Association's Strategic plan announced earlier this week but delivering on its objectives will require huge resources and the commitment of volunteers.