What is institutional corruption in sport?

• A. Personal corruption by a single athlete.
• B. Bribery of referees by teams.
• C. Fan manipulation of officiating.
• D. Systemic abuse of power within organizations to pursue agendas that undermine fairness and trust.

Answer: (C)

Institutional corruption in sport refers to systemic abuse of power within the organizations that govern sport—how rules, policies, and leadership decisions are used to pursue agendas that undermine fairness, integrity, and trust. This goes beyond isolated acts by individuals or external pressures and points to the way governance and power dynamics inside clubs, leagues, or national bodies distort outcomes for certain groups or interests. The best description captures that ongoing, organizational-level manipulation of structures to serve agendas at the expense of fair play.

While manipulating officiating by fans is unethical, it reflects external influence rather than abuse of the sport’s internal governance and decision-making systems. It’s not about how the organization operates from within, but about pressure or misconduct coming from outside the institutional framework.