Fifa was the perfect global monopoly – and its crisis is a parable about the future of capitalism

At the start of the global era it was assumed most countries would become more democratic, but the world's elite are fairly happy with corruption and prepared to see it rise

You don't have to get many belts in taekwondo to realise the most intense fighting is actually going on between men in blazers. Back in the 1980s there were only two rival international federations governing the Korean martial art. Today, as with Trotskyism, even more splinter groups have proliferated. Meanwhile in boxing there are at least four separate organisations that can dub you "world champion".

So Fifa, before it descended into crisis, was that rare thing: a world sporting body with no refuseniks. Thanks to the largesse of its executive - recycling sponsorship money to small national associations that would remain loyal to the centre - it became the perfect global monopoly. It was, until last Wednesday, seemingly above national jurisdiction. Though headquartered in Geneva, Fifa - like globalisation itself - seemed really to be domiciled in a first-class cabin, 32,000ft above the earth.

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