James M. Dorsey

Israeli Football’s Bad Boys Look for Finance

Israeli Football’s Bad Boys Look for Finance

JAMES M. DORSEY: Mired in controversy, as ever, Israel football team Beitar Jerusalem are looking for a way out of their dire financial situation.

 James M. Dorsey

Turkish Soccer: High Debt, Unorthodox Economics

Turkish Soccer: High Debt, Unorthodox Economics

JAMES M. DORSEY: Turkish soccer faces the same risks as the country’s economy, it operates on the same principles: high debt, unorthodox monetary policy.

 James M. Dorsey

It’s Official: A Revolution Improves A Country’s Football Performance

It’s Official: A Revolution Improves A Country’s Football Performance

JAMES M. DORSEY: A study has revealed that 5 North African nations experiencing upheaval in 2011 have seen football teams improve markedly.

 James M. Dorsey

Blatter U-Turn Sees Door Closed on FIFA Investigation of Qatar’s World Cup Win

Blatter U-Turn Sees Door Closed on FIFA Investigation of Qatar’s World Cup Win

JAMES M. DORSEY: Sepp Blatter, a month after opening the door to an investigation of the Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid, has declared “case closed”.

 James M. Dorsey

Own Goal: Bahrain National Goalkeeper Imprisoned over Role in Protests

Own Goal: Bahrain National Goalkeeper Imprisoned over Role in Protests

JAMES M. DORSEY: Military court sentences goalkeeper, plus two other sportsmen, despite pledge by the King to move trials to civilian courts.

 James M. Dorsey

Fake Soccer Websites ‘Key’ To Iran Cyber-Attack

Fake Soccer Websites ‘Key’ To Iran Cyber-Attack

JAMES M. DORSEY: The creators of the Stuxnet virus, which allegedly did significant damage to Iran’s nuclear programme, used fake soccer websites to smokescreen their handiwork

 James M. Dorsey

Worrying Times: FIFA Opens Door to Investigation of Qatar’s World Cup Bid

Worrying Times: FIFA Opens Door to Investigation of Qatar’s World Cup Bid

JAMES M. DORSEY: In a worrying development for Qatar, the FIFA president has opened the door to a possible investigation into its successful World Cup bid.

 James M. Dorsey

Soccer Fans to Fore Again in Egyptian Protests

Soccer Fans to Fore Again in Egyptian Protests

JAMES M. DORSEY: It’s looking likely that the authorities will, for the second time this year, postpone or suspend professional soccer leagues.

 James M. Dorsey

Syria: Young Goalkeeper Leads Homs Protest

Syria: Young Goalkeeper Leads Homs Protest

JAMES M. DORSEY: A promising young footballer has emerged as the voice of protest in the Syrian city of Homs. He has become a key target for the regime’s security forces.

 James M. Dorsey

Syrian Regime Looks to Soccer for Support

Syrian Regime Looks to Soccer for Support

JAMES M. DORSEY: ‘Bread and circuses’ are what the Roman emperors offered the people. ‘Bullets and soccer’ are what the Syrian regime appear to be offering today.

 James M. Dorsey

Bad Timing For Dubai’s First Soccer Hedge Fund

Bad Timing For Dubai’s First Soccer Hedge Fund

JAMES M. DORSEY: A Dubai bank has launched the region’s first alternative soccer fund modelled on European funds – amid rising fan opposition.

 James M. Dorsey

‘Cultural’ Symbol: Hijab Dispute Nears End

‘Cultural’ Symbol: Hijab Dispute Nears End

JAMES M. DORSEY: It has been a running sore between FIFA, football’s world governing body, and women’s football teams throughout the Islamic world.

 James M. Dorsey

Somali Jihadists Skewed Focus on Women Sports

Somali Jihadists Skewed Focus on Women Sports

JAMES M. DORSEY: While Al Qaeda is attempting to portray a gentler face, distributing aid to famine victims, Al Shabab, are ensuring strict adherence to a ban on women’s sports.

 James M. Dorsey

Gulf States Seek to Tap Massive Sport Investments

Gulf States Seek to Tap Massive Sport Investments

JAMES M. DORSEY: Spain is rapidly emerging as a model for the offsets Qatar, Dubai and other energy-rich Gulf states hope to reap from their massive investments.

 James M. Dorsey

Football Supporters Behind Attack on Israeli Embassy

Football Supporters Behind Attack on Israeli Embassy

JAMES DORSEY: The militant supporters of Al Ahly and Al Zemalek, who were prominent in the 25th January Revolution, were instrumental in the attack on the Israeli Embassy in Cairo.

 James M. Dorsey

Qaddafi Sons: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

Qaddafi Sons: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

JAMES M. DORSEY: At face value, Saadi and Saif’s different positions appear to be at best a surprising reversal of roles with Saadi, described as “notoriously ill-behaved”.

 Rob L. Wagner

Kick It: Women’s Football On the Rise in Kingdom

Kick It: Women’s Football On the Rise in Kingdom

ROB L. WAGNER: ‘Unseemly’, ‘undignified’ and ‘a threat to players’ virginity’ in the eyes of religious conservatives but women’s football is making major strides in Saudi Arabia.

 James M. Dorsey

Bahrain: A Headache For Obama and Blatter

Bahrain: A Headache For Obama and Blatter

JAMES M. DORSEY: Mr. Obama does not want to put at risk the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet; nor does he want to cross what is a red line for Saudi.

 James M. Dorsey

Saudi Women Campaign for Right to Play Soccer

Saudi Women Campaign for Right to Play Soccer

JAMES M. DORSEY: Some clerics condemn women’s sport as corrupting, they also warn running and jumping can damage a woman’s hymen…

 David Roberts

UAE Footy Team’s Backheel Penalty – Tut Tut…

UAE Footy Team’s Backheel Penalty – Tut Tut…

DAVID ROBERTS: To those that perhaps don’t understand football culture, this is a shoddy thing to do. And it’s far worse if you’re already 6-2 up.