Foul Play takes us into the shady world of football match fixing across Asia, where government officials and corporate club owners conspire to ensure that the outcome of the game is determined long before the whistle blows. We follow the story of Simon McMenemy – an English football coach parachuted in to save an Indonesian team after shooting to fame in the Philippines managing their national team. After overcoming his initial culture shock, it becomes clear that the best team doesn’t necessarily win.
A sophisticated network of match fixers have an iron grip on the game, players on low salaries are vulnerable to bribes and coaches who raise questions can be removed by team owners.
Foul Play uncovers, with startling new evidence, a world where international tournaments are set up purely to be fixed, players are given specific instructions on exactly when to take a dive and even when the match isn’t fixed, the referees can ask for a kick back just to ref impartially. As Simon’s frustration grows, it becomes clear that the corruption that is choking Indonesian Football, is the same that is holding back the region across every field.