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9th out of 17 books
—
7 voters
The Fix: Soccer and Organized Crime
by
Declan Hill
The Fix is the most explosive story of sports corruption in a generation. Intriguing, riveting, and compelling, it tells the story of an investigative journalist who sets out to examine the world of match-fixing in professional soccer.
From the Introduction
Understand how gambling fixers work to corrupt a soccer game and you will understand how they move into a basketball le...more
From the Introduction
Understand how gambling fixers work to corrupt a soccer game and you will understand how they move into a basketball le...more
Hardcover, 400 pages
Published
September 2nd 2008
by McClelland & Stewart
(first published January 1st 2008)
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Sendo eu um apaixonado pelo futebol, confesso que desde os anos 90 deixei de acreditar na honestidade da maioria dos torneios que acompanho, perguntando a mim mesmo porque ainda sigo esses torneios se não acredito na justiça dos seus resultados?
É esse o fascínio do futebol. Por muito factos estranhos que eu tenha assistido à descarada, o certo é que gosto de acompanhar e assistir quando posso, pese embora não vá a um estádio de futebol há uns 15 anos e nem penso em lá voltar.
Declan Hill, jornali...more
É esse o fascínio do futebol. Por muito factos estranhos que eu tenha assistido à descarada, o certo é que gosto de acompanhar e assistir quando posso, pese embora não vá a um estádio de futebol há uns 15 anos e nem penso em lá voltar.
Declan Hill, jornali...more
Seemed to skim the surface too much and not truly delve into match fixing beyond the Asian fixers. Interesting stuff to read about but their leagues are small fish compared to Europe and S.America. I really wanted to read the nitty gritty about fixes in Europe and S.America, what I got was some anecdotal information about fixes in Europe (don't recall fixes in S.America beyond international matches mentioned) and how corrupt leagues were in Asia and Africa.
Now I'm sure the Croatia Turkey game in...more
Now I'm sure the Croatia Turkey game in...more
Quite a good book, though I have some problems with his writing style (or his editor, I still haven't decided). He presents the idea that fixers have infiltrated every level of every type of sport throughout the world.
My biggest problem is that with all this new information, I'm a little afraid to talk to anyone about it since the only people who would care might be seriously disillusioned by the information in this book, especially those who are very devoted to English football. I don't like to...more
My biggest problem is that with all this new information, I'm a little afraid to talk to anyone about it since the only people who would care might be seriously disillusioned by the information in this book, especially those who are very devoted to English football. I don't like to...more
Jul 29, 2011
Derek Simon
added it
A worthwhile read for any fan of the beautiful game. Alot of what Hill provides is circumstantial and anecdotal evidence, but there is enough there to merit serious consideration, and probably investigation. It has long been obvious that things are not on the up and up within FIFA and UEFA. This book shows that it is time for some serious inquiries into the way business is being done in the world of soccer. Ultimately Hill leaves it on upbeat note: there are reasons to hope for better, and the g...more
Fantastic book. Really changed the way I look at soccer. A lot of crazy stuff going on out there. Great research, tons of first person information on what is happening straight from the author Declan Hill. I'm looking forward to his next one, apparently coming out soon. Since the book came out he has been hired by a few soccer federations to help fix some of their gambling issues. FIFA of course continues to bury their heads in the sand. He (Declan) is a great interview if you ever get a chance...more
Me: "Let's see. It's a Saturday, it's early, I'll do some reading and some laundry. Wanna feel productive today, because there's a hockey game and two soccer games I want to watch this evening. Better get started so I don't miss them!"
[reads The Fix]
Wife: "Honey, I thought you were going to watch sports this afternoon?"
Me: "Who cares?"
Slightly dramatized, but a nonetheless accurate portrayal of what your sporting life will become before and after reading The Fix by Declan Hill.
I've been a sports...more
[reads The Fix]
Wife: "Honey, I thought you were going to watch sports this afternoon?"
Me: "Who cares?"
Slightly dramatized, but a nonetheless accurate portrayal of what your sporting life will become before and after reading The Fix by Declan Hill.
I've been a sports...more
Most of this book did not come as much of a suprise to me. In fact what was disappointing in this book, it didn't tell me anything I didn't know or couldn`t have easily guessed or figured out on my own.
Curruption and gambling syndicates in Asia.......NO WAY....Mobsters in RUSSIA......are you serious!! They control FOOTBALL and HOCKEY teams, they are dangerous and may do bad things?!!
Isn`t this common knowledge.........yawn.
The fact that the book didn`t discuss the most recent scandels in Italy...more
Curruption and gambling syndicates in Asia.......NO WAY....Mobsters in RUSSIA......are you serious!! They control FOOTBALL and HOCKEY teams, they are dangerous and may do bad things?!!
Isn`t this common knowledge.........yawn.
The fact that the book didn`t discuss the most recent scandels in Italy...more
This totally explains Germany's loss to Italy in the Euro Cup semi-final. It had to be fixed! But of course such a high-profile team would never accept money to lose a match. Right?
In all seriousness, this book showed me what anyone will do for money (sports figures included). It was however, poorly written and edited and I was expecting a LOT more dirt.
In all seriousness, this book showed me what anyone will do for money (sports figures included). It was however, poorly written and edited and I was expecting a LOT more dirt.
Declan Hill obviously did lots of great investigative journalism on this, but the result is really just a sequence of anecdotes. In the hands of a better writer, I suspect this might have been compelling. As it was, I abandoned it halfway through.
Interesting book, on corruption in soccer. I was hoping for a historical overview of the subject, but this book is rather an account of Declan Hill's investigation of corruption in Malaysia and Singapore, and the growing influence of Asian gambling on European club soccer. He also devotes some time to investigation possible match fixing in the World Cup. A very interesting read and a plea to FIFA and UEFA to take action before it is too late.
A fairly damning portrain of match-fixing at various levels of organized soccer from the lowest all the way to The World Cup. Mostly well-written although some of the chapters seem like they're laid out as part of a thesis or something.
great book on two of my favourite subjects... soccer and the mafia :-) this book will definetly changw your views on soccer and how the game is played
A very eye-opening read on corruption and fixing, not just in soccer but in the sports world in general. It will be hard to watch a sporting event in the same way again.
Declan does give the particulars on how match fixing occurs, and who has the most to gain from it.
Lo que cuenta es interesante, aunque a uno no le guste el fútbol. Le quita puntuación el hecho de ser excesivamente narrativo.
it's a phenomenally involving read, but I find the reaction of some (shocking! You'll never look at sports the same way again!) to be absurd, the result, surely, of naive beliefs. That said, this is a fascinating look at match-fixing, even if I couldn't give less of a crap about match-fixing in most of the leagues and competitions discussed. Very well-researched and I admire Hill literally putting his life on the line for this book.
Brutal, brutal read as a soccer fan, but a must read never the less. The hard truth is not made particularly easier to read by Mr. Hill's writing style. While, I did not enjoy the fact the book read like an overly familiar LiveJournal entry, it did add to Mr. Hill's credibility. I had mixed feelings reading it, but I would recommend it to anyone.
useful but not a masterpiece
Although not the least surprising, this book is insightful and eye opening for any football fan. The access to key figures such as Sepp Blatter and their generally weak responses on corruption in the sport will awaken the conspiracy theorist in everyone.
Great book. Must read for soccer fans. Hate to hear about corruption on soccer but I'd rather know than be if ignorant to it
Great research on an interesting topic. Sometimes long winded.
Really poorly edited - I get it, you've got a doctorate from Oxford - but raises important questions about where the game is and where it's going.
Totally did not expect Malaysia to be the "star" of this book thus far...
Fascinating read. Perhaps all is not as innocent as I had assumed.
Troubling.
May 16, 2013
Matthew S
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Timothy
added it
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Jul 16, 2011 04:10pm