Football States Intrusion: When States and Sovereign Fund Redefine the Rules of the Games

This article examines the growing influence of states and sovereign wealth funds in football, analysing how state-backed investment can reshape club ownership, competition structures and governance standards. It discusses the tension between football’s traditional autonomy and the increasing political, economic and strategic interests of state actors, raising key questions around sportswashing, financial fairness, regulatory control and the integrity of the game.