On the sidelines of an evening soccer game at the "Alte Försterei", a young man dies from a knife wound held in the arms of his best friend, the hooligan Marcel Fork. Almost at the same time, an accident occurs in the parking lot of the site. The journalist Bosch survives it with serious injuries, while David, a successful scout for young soccer talent, burns to death in the car while his girlfriend Lea Brandstätter has to watch, unable to help. That morning, when David surprised Lea with his visit to Berlin, the idealistic criminal defense lawyer had a feeling something was wrong. David seemed under pressure and felt he was being followed. Lea wants to find out why David died as the search for answers to a growing number of questions begins.

Lea is still in shock when the police inform her about the stabbing in the stadium. A short time later, two men demand that she give them David's documents and mobile phone. Lea can only assert herself with the help of her mentor and law firm colleague Christina, who recognizes one of the men. When she starts investigating, Lea uncovers David's connections to the WFA and thus Leco's controversial plans for his billion-dollar project, a World League. Because a secret preliminary vote just failed, Leco now wants to change the outcome of the vote at any price. Meanwhile, Abdullah, a friend of Lea's, managed to crack David's cell phone. The phone does not only include explosive material about WFA council members but there is also an encrypted chat group. Lea meets the hooligan Marcel, who is a suspect on the run from the police, in front of the hospital where Bosch is being treated.

Lea drives alone to Lake Constance. Once she arrives, not only does she find David's house devastated, but she also meets his stunned business partner Richard Rimbauer. Jean Leco wants to force through the creation of a World League with the help of the dubious financier Casutt, but he loses control over some of the renegade council members. In Berlin, Marcel stumbles upon a lead from his friend's widow. Meanwhile, Lea drives to the WFA headquarters in Zurich and forces René Meier to let her talk to Leco.

Lea is freed and unexpectedly finds herself with the European anti-corruption agency, which has been tracking Leco for years. With her bold demeanor, Lea crosses the path of Meryem Hoffmann, the senior officer. In Ghana's capital, Accra, the overcrowded soccer stadium results in a mass panic with many victims. Leco sees this as his chance to get Jeanne Awona, Ghana's deputy sports minister, on his side to vote for the World League. Meryem Hoffmann sees herself close to her goal. During a conversation, Lea learns things about David's cooperation with the WFA.

In Zurich, Hoffmann agrees to a meeting between Lea and WFA President Leco, where Lea learns why the idealistic David supported the Federation Official's World League. In Berlin, Christina has finally made progress with the chat group. Lea confronts Richard about this but has no success. However, the dark side of talent scouting is becoming more and more apparent. When Bosch wakes up from his coma, Christina immediately drives to the clinic. Lea sets out to return to Berlin. Meanwhile, Leco doesn't let himself be forced into a corner by the dogged investigator Hoffmann. Marcel recognizes his friend's murderers among the hooligans and discovers new information.

Lea has no time to mourn Christina, but her guilt is tearing her apart. A special unit sting operation at the gym remains unsuccessful. Lea finds her apartment ransacked. Together with Marcel, she hides out at Abdullah's laundry and sends a message to the chat group. The search for the missing African players from the chat, who were looked after by David and Richard, is becoming increasingly urgent. Leco is under surveillance by the anti-corruption agency and uses his family to secretly continue his business. Leco wants to meet the real investors and gets an unexpected visit to his house. Mikhail threatens Lea. At that moment, someone from the chat group gets in touch who, apparently, also had been at the stadium.