Seven Dials nets 'compelling exposé' into world of 'sportswashing' by football journalist Miguel Delaney

Seven Dials has signed a "compelling exposé" into the world of "sportswashing" by the Independent’s chief football writer, Miguel Delaney.

Editor Tierney Witty acquired world all-language rights to States of Play from David Luxton at David Luxton Associates, and the book will be published on 1st August in hardback, export trade paperback, audiobook and e-book.

“Journeying from Abu Dhabi to Newcastle, and onto London, Paris, Moscow and New York in search of the answers, Miguel Delaney follows the threads that surround the allegations of sportswashing and misconduct in the beautiful game," the synopsis says. "The result is an exploration of how European football clubs have been bought by some of the world’s wealthiest businessmen and state-backed corporations. Drawing on exclusive interviews and unprecedented access to key stakeholders, Miguel has produced an all-encompassing exposé of modern footballs highest echelons."

Witty said: “From the very start, working with Miguel has been a true pleasure. His ambition and charisma are infectious, while his writing is fantastic. States of Play is a gripping read that will transport readers around the world, through the many interviews Miguel has conducted during his investigations, revealing the horrifying realities of our beloved sport."

Delaney added: “The story of modern football is how it has been transformed by three main influences: geopolitics (particularly through Gulf regional rivalries), which is termed as ’sportswashing’; a very western form of capitalism; the sport’s own institutional failure. The details of this are at once shocking, sensational and sometimes absurd. Given that a story of such importance, to the game and wider society, has never been told in full, I feel it is both essential and exciting to do so for the first time with States of Play.”