Sports - DER SPIEGEL

A Strawman in England FC Barcelona, a Shell Company and Messi's Father

The London-based company Sidefloor was part of the tax-evasion structure for which Lionel Messi and his father Jorge were convicted. Now it has been revealed that FC Barcelona spent years paying agent fees to this letterbox company, payments apparently destined for Jorge Messi. Von Rafael Buschmann und Michael Wulzinger

FC Barcelona, a Shell Company and Messi's Father - Alberto Estevez/ REUTERS

Football Leaks Why FC Chelsea Parked a Young Player in Cologne

Why did the 14-year-old football prodigy Thierno Ballo transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to the amateur club Viktoria Köln? He was apparently parked there as part of a contract with FC Chelsea. Von Rafael Buschmann und Michael Wulzinger

Why FC Chelsea Parked a Young Player in Cologne - DPA

Ukrainian Brotherhood How UEFA Payments Ended Up in the British Virgin Islands

UEFA transferred around 380 million euros intended for the Football Federation of Ukraine to a company in the British Virgin Islands without knowing who controlled the firm. It was the oligarch Igor Surkis, president of Dynamo Kyiv, who finance his club using the offshore company. Von Rafael Buschmann und Michael Wulzinger

How UEFA Payments Ended Up in the British Virgin Islands - Viktor Koshkin/ Getty Images

The Category-A Principle How Adidas and Nike Are Cementing Football's Wealth Gap

Adidas and Nike are locked in bitter competition for the right to represent players and teams with the greatest global reach. It is a battle that cements the gap between the rich and the poor in world football. Cristiano Ronaldo's contract is perhaps the most astonishing. Von Rafael Buschmann und Michael Wulzinger

How Adidas and Nike Are Cementing Football's Wealth Gap - Jas Lehal/ Reuters

FC Bayern CEO 'Why Do We Need to Change Anything at All?'

Everyone is talking about reforming the Champions League, but FC Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge would be happy for things to stay the same. He also tells DER SPIEGEL in an interview that he isn't interested in plans for a Super League. Von Rafael Buschmann und Christoph Winterbach

'Why Do We Need to Change Anything at All?' - ddp / Fox-Images

UEFA President Ceferin 'Should We Punish Football Clubs for Being Successful?'

In an interview, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferi discusses corruption in football, plans for a new Champions League and the decision to play the Europa League final in Baku, Azerbaijan. Von Christoph Winterbach und Rafael Buschmann

'Should We Punish Football Clubs for Being Successful?' - Alessandra Tarantino/ AP

Football Leaks Man City Accused of Using Shadow Firms to Flout Rules

Football Leaks documents outline how Manchester City's owners may have used a surreptitious company in the Cayman Islands to conceal a player investment fund. The team has been accused of violating UEFA spending rules. Von Rafael Buschmann und Christoph Winterbach

Man City Accused of Using Shadow Firms to Flout Rules - MANCHESTER CITY / GETTY IMAGES

A Child Prodigy's Fate Jadon Sancho's Path to the Bundesliga

Young English football star Jadon Sancho is electrifying the Bundesliga, Germany's top league. Manchester City spent years trying to secure the player for the long term, even apparently resorting to irregular payments. But he landed in Germany nonetheless. Von Rafael Buschmann und Christoph Winterbach

Jadon Sancho's Path to the Bundesliga - AFP

Bratwurst and Beer German Football Struggles to Keep Up with Premier League Glitz

Ahead of the Champions League matches between English and German teams, experts are gushing about the fantastic talent and marketing potential of the Premier League clubs. But why? The Bundesliga has much more to offer than just entertainment. Von Hendrik Buchheister, Rafael Buschmann, Gerhard Pfeil, Christoph Winterbach und Michael Wulzinger

German Football Struggles to Keep Up with Premier League Glitz - DPA

Trophy Trouble The Dark Side of Doing Business in Qatar

When Qatar almost had to open the 2015 World Handball Championship before the trophy had been made, an entrepreneur stepped in to help the emir and the country save face. Rather than getting paid, his life turned into a living hell. Von Jürgen Dahlkamp, Gunther Latsch und Jörg Schmitt

The Dark Side of Doing Business in Qatar - MARWAN NAAMANI/ AFP/ Getty Images

Interview with Football Leaks Lawyer 'He Is Absolutely Aware of the Earthquake He Triggered'

William Bourdon is a lawyer who represents prominent whistblowers. He's now leading the defense team for Rui Pinto, the man behind the Football Leaks revelations. In an interview, Bourdon discusses his client's motives and the threat he will be extradited to Portugal. Von Rafael Buschmann, Christoph Winterbach und Michael Wulzinger

'Considerable Danger' A Growing Workload for Alpine Mountain Rescuers

The quest for mountain adventures is constantly growing -- sometimes becoming so irresistible that tourists ignore weather and avalanche warnings. Mountain rescuers risk their lives to save them, but they often only return with dead bodies. Von Gerhard Pfeil

A Growing Workload for Alpine Mountain Rescuers - Peter Schatz / Magics / action press

'It Was Rough' New Documents Emerge in Ronaldo Rape Allegations

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to make his fans happy on the field. Off of it, however, things aren't looking so bright: A woman has accused him of raping her in 2009, and there is an extremely sensitive document that supports her story. His lawyers say it is a fabrication. Is it? By DER SPIEGEL Staff

New Documents Emerge in Ronaldo Rape Allegations - Gribaudi/ Imago

Anti-Doping Delay FIFA's Foot-Dragging in an Investigation in Russia

Lawyer Richard McLaren was initially supposed to investigate widespread doping allegations in Russian football ahead of the 2018 World Cup. But he was prevented from doing so by a top FIFA official. By DER SPIEGEL Staff

FIFA's Foot-Dragging in an Investigation in Russia - imago/ZUMA Press, imago/ITAR-TASS, Benedikt Rugar/ DER SPIEGEL

Doping Irregularities Ramos, Ronaldo and the Controllers

Do anti-doping rules apply equally to all players and teams? After Real Madrid won the Champions League in 2017, Sergio Ramos was tested for a substance prohibited in competition and caught the eye of inspectors. But the case never reached the light of day. Now, the team captain is entangled in a new affair. By DER SPIEGEL Staff

Ramos, Ronaldo and the Controllers - Getty Images, Benedikt Rugar/ DER SPIEGEL

Don't Get Injured The Unfair Rules in Women's Football

Special rules apply to female football players in the Women's Super League: If they get injured, their contract can be terminated after just three months. By DER SPIEGEL Staff

The Unfair Rules in Women's Football - Getty Images, Benedikt Rugar/ DER SPIEGEL

Rape Allegations Ronaldo's Defense Team Develops a Strategy

It took two weeks, but the legal team seeking to defend Cristiano Ronaldo against rape allegations levelled by Kathryn Mayorga has now settled on a defense strategy. They are seeking to cast doubt on information published by DER SPIEGEL. By DER SPIEGEL Staff

Ronaldo's Defense Team Develops a Strategy - AFP

Her Name Is Kathryn The Woman Who Accuses Ronaldo of Rape

An American woman claims Cristiano Ronaldo raped her in Las Vegas. Years ago, the soccer star paid her to remain silent. Now, the woman is going public for the first time and filing a complaint against Ronaldo. She possesses a document that could be extremely dangerous for him. By DER SPIEGEL Staff

The Woman Who Accuses Ronaldo of Rape - Maria Feck / DER SPIEGEL

Olympic Cyclist Kristina Vogel on the Aftermath of Her Terrible Accident 'I'm Sorry. I Don't Usually Cry'

A terrible accident two months ago left Olympic sprint cycling champion Kristina Vogel, 27, paralyzed. In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, she speaks for the first time about what happened and the pointlessness of the question: "Why me?" Von Antje Windmann

'I'm Sorry. I Don't Usually Cry' - Maurice Weiss / DER SPIEGEL

PEDs Scandal Romanian Doping Lab Covered Up Positive Tests

A sports doping laboratory in Romania has been suspended for months. An internal report from the World Anti-Doping Agency indicates the penalty came in response to intentional manipulation by an "external entity." Von Rafael Buschmann, Thilo Neumann und Christoph Winterbach