Can Sport Ever Really Fight Corruption? One Organisation is Trying.

In 1997, Play the Game was created to help sport find its conscience. But nearly three decades on, its founder says it's still a long way off.

When Danish journalist Jens Sejer Andersen launched Play the Game in 1997, the plan may have sounded naïve. Could an organization become a “home for the homeless” and help sport improve its democracy, transparency, and freedom of speech?

Looking at the global sports landscape in 2025, it’s been a hard task. Saudi Arabia’s chokehold on many sports is tightening, the ramifications of runaway sports betting are still being understood, and match-fixing continues to increase.
But Play the Game is far from giving up. Its ClearingSport project proposes the creation of an international entity able to counter crime, corruption, and other breaches of integrity in sport.

The Sports and Crime Briefing sat down with Andersen to learn more.

Sports and Crime Briefing: You stepped down as Chairman of Play the Game earlier this year after more than 25 years.…