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FIFA’s Blatter unwittingly pinpoints football governance’s prime issues
By James M. Dorsey Embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter unwittingly put his finger on two fundamental issues that underlie a corruption scandal that has rocked world football governance, the worst crisis in the sport’s history: the fiction that sports and politics are separate and hypocrisy that distorts legitimate debate about Qatar’s successful but controversial World …
ILO condemnation of Qatar likely to have ripple effects
By James M. Dorsey The International Labour Organization (ILO) has dealt a blow to Qatari assertions that the Gulf state complies with global standards for workers, in a report that condemned the government for allowing state-owned Qatar Airways, in the words of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), to “violate international and national agreements and …
Pressure of World Cup qualifications, poor planning reason for failing in African championships: Former Al-Ahly coach
Egyptian coaches need education to reach universality
Reforming football governance: Tackling political corruption alongside financial wrongdoing
By James M. Dorsey The mushrooming governance scandal in world football body FIFA increasingly spotlights political, in addition to financial, corruption in global football. Revelations about government and corporate deals made to secure Germany’s hosting of the 2006 World Cup alongside the prominence of political figures in sports governance, frequently aligned with autocratic regimes, emphasises …
ILO victory boosts Qatari hopes of defeating efforts to deprive it of World Cup
By James M. Dorsey A resolution by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to postpone until November a decision to investigate Qatar on charges of violating the Forced Labour and Labour Inspection Conventions is likely to boost the Gulf state’s ability to defeat any attempt to strip it of the right to host the 2022 World …
FIFA president Blatter signals mounting pressure on Qatar to tackle migrant worker problems
By James M. Dorsey A warning by world soccer body FIFA president Sepp Blatter following talks this weekend with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani that Qatar needs to do more to improve the working and living conditions of its migrant workers is the latest signal that Qatar will have to take …
International sports associations caught between dollar signs and human rights ideals
By James M. Dorsey A just published study highlights how commerce and glitz are reinforcing support for autocracy by international sports associations, and undermining the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) newly found resolve to hold potential host cities to human rights standards to which world football body FIFA pays. The study by Andrew Zimbalist, Circus Maximus: The Economic …
UAE embarks on global campaign to market its brand of autocracy
By James M. Dorsey The United Arab Emirates has embarked on an all-out effort to broaden its regional influence and achieve global acceptance of its autocratic definition of terrorism that encompasses all non-violent, legitimate expressions of political Islam. The effort competes head on with Qatar’s pro-Islamist approach to soft power. It involves participation in the …
Ronaldo wins best player title for 2nd year: FIFA Ballon d’Or 2015
Ronaldo won the award for the first time in 2008, when it was only held by FIFA, also against Lionel Messi
Pele: A jewel that dazzled the world, dims with disease
Many consider Pele to be the best player in football history, while in Brazil he is considered a national hero. He played the position of striker and was famed for his skills.
Israeli raid on Palestinian football club signals dangerous hardening of battle lines
By James M. Dorsey A football brawl in Israel’s politically most loaded derby and an alleged subsequent raid by the Israeli military on the offices of Israel’s foremost Palestinian football club reflects a hardening of the Israeli-Palestinian divide as Israel debates legislation that would emphasise the Jewish national rather than the democratic nature of the …
Israel mobilises to deprive Qatar of the World Cup
By James M. Dorsey One group has been conspicuously absent in the battle for greater transparency of global football governance symbolised by multiple corruption scandals and match-fixing: football fans, a key stakeholder with a vested interest in demanding a thorough cleansing of the management of the sport. That, however, may be changing as Israel appears …
Gulf States and their US critics seek to shape US perceptions on football pitch
By James M. Dorsey Gulf states seeking to polish images tarnished by allegations of violations of human rights and their critics are employing football in an effort to shape American perceptions. At stake for countries like Qatar and the UAE is more than just reputation; it is the ability to invest in strategic US assets …
Qatar’s direct World Cup expenditure ‘small’, estimated at $16bn: Bank Merrill Lynch
By Evline Meshreky The direct effect for Qatar of losing the 2022 World Cup hosting rights would be small, concluded a report issued by the Bank of America Merrill Lynch on Monday. Broader infrastructure projects, however, would likely lose execution focus and face potential delays, the report stated. FIFA’s ethics committee is investigating the awarding …
Germany crowned world champions in Brazil
Extra time goal Götze stuns Argentina and delivers Die Mannschaft fourth World Cup title
World Cup 2014 – Brazil’s dream turns into 7 goal nightmare
First semi-final produces shocking result to send Germany through to the final
World Cup 2014 – first knockout stage produces dramatic performances
The round of 16 has been played out and it did not disappoint, five out of eight ties went to extra time
World Cup boosts Iran’s image, highlights political sports battles
By James M. Dorsey It didn’t take long for it to emerge that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani shared an understanding of football’s political utility with predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose conservative policies he hopes to reverse. Like Ahmadinejad, Rouhani, a cleric, is seeking to identify himself with the success of his country’s national football team, delivering …
World Cup sparks Islamist debate on football’s integrity
By James M. Dorsey Ultra-conservative clerics are condemning football as a Jewish and Christian tool undermining Islamic culture as millions of Muslims worldwide tune in to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The condemnations revive an enduring debate among conservatives and militants about the football’s integrity. They constitute one side of a jihadi and Salafi …
World Cup 2014 – Goals galore in Brazil
The first week of the World Cup has produced some fantastic football; Daily News Egypt gives you a roundup of the best moments
AFC power struggle reflects sorry state of football governance
By James M. Dorsey FIFA Vice President and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) executive committee member Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, in an uncommon display of elegance and magnanimity in the rarefied world of world soccer as well as of Middle Eastern and North African leaders, has conceded defeat in a battle that is symptomatic of …
Time for Brazil
On Thursday, brace yourselves, because the football feast will start at the nation where football has been always at its best: Brazil.
89% of employees in MENA region are expected to watch the World Cup 2014: Survey
Employers express concern on possible productivity drop during the World Cup Tournament
Will Brazil win the World Cup?
By Dr César Chelala When Diego Maradona was asked in 1998 who would win that year’s football World Cup being played in France, he said: “Countries organise the World Cup to win it,” thus suggesting that France would be the winner. And it was. The same thing could be said for this year’s World Cup in Brazil. For most people, Brazil is …
World Cup to kick off with an Egyptian twist
Where are you watching the opening ceremony Thursday?
Qatar corruption allegations may prove to have potentially massive fall-out
By James M. Dorsey British weekly’s, The Sunday Times, disclosure of millions of documents allegedly revealing Qatari vote buying in the Gulf state’s successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup could alter the Gulf’s fragile balance of power. It could also reverse hopes that Qatar would initiate significant social change in the region, and return the worst corruption …
Qatari paid millions for World Cup bid support: report
FIFA is investigating the 2010 vote that awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar and the 2018 tournament to Russia, following previous corruption accusations.
Out of the shadows: Young players set to shine at 2014 World Cup
In less than a month, all eyes across the globe will be on Brazil for the World Cup. Every four years, football addicts worldwide share new tactics, squad lists, expectations and hopes. Amid all the obvious gems, it’s worth searching for those young players who might not yet have the crown of stardom around their …
Sharm El Sheikh to host 2014 WSF World Cup
The location will give hosts Egypt the chance to defend the 2011 title they won for the first time in Chennai, India, on home soil.
Diables Rouges
World football fans are familiar with the names of Eden Hazard, Jan Vertonghen, Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini, Vincent Kompany, Thibaut Courtois and Simon Mignolet. Wwhat gathers this set of quality footballers are their Belgian passports. Belgium was never a football giant, as the national team appeared in 12 World Cups and their best result was …