James M. Dorsey Al-Dowsari , Asia , Football , Mosque , Outline of Saudi Arabia , Religion/Belief , Saudi Arabia , Soccer , Sports , the World Cup , Wahhabi , Women's rights in Saudi Arabia , World Cup
JAMES DORSEY: Even though Saudi Arabia did not qualify for the World Cup it’s being followed avidly by women in the Kingdom
James M. Dorsey Ali Bin Al Hussein , Arabian Peninsula , Asia , Asian Football Confederation , Bahrain , Basra , Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf , FIFA , Football , International reactions to the 2011–2012 Bahraini uprising , Iran , Iraq , Iraq national football team , Iraqi Football Association , Iraqi government , Kuwait , Member states of the Arab League , Member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf , Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , Member states of the United Nations , Persian Gulf countries , Politics , President , Prince , Saudi Arabia , Shi'a–Sunni relations , Soccer , Sports , United Arab Emirates , War/Conflict , Western Asia
Sectarian divisions fuelling conflict across the Middle East have spilt on to the soccer pitch with Iraq’s decision to boycott the Gulf Cup and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) warning the Iraqi government not to interfere in the game. It is hard to separate the divisions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims that governments in Bahrain […]
Jonathan Cook Asia , Avi Luzon , BDS , Boycott Divestment and Sanctions , Boycotts of Israel , Cederovtala tutun ATSC , Football , Gaza Strip , Human rights in Israel , Human rights in the Palestinian territories , Israel , Israel and the apartheid analogy , Israeli Football Association , Israeli–Palestinian conflict , Mahmoud Sarsak , Middle East , Omar Barghouti , Politics , Sports , UEFA , War/Conflict , Western Asia , Zionism
JONATHAN COOK: Israelis are basking in the warm glow of playing host to a major international sporting event. Is it though the beginning of a South African style campaign focused on sport?
Steve Royston Football , Premier League
Top flight football in England continues to be at the wild frontier of business – to the extent that it’s a business at all. I’m with Richard Bevan, the chief executive of the English League Managers Association when he says that the number of sackings of soccer managers in the English professional game is “embarrassing”. STEVE ROYSTON: Many of their forays into football look like bouts of temporary insanity from where I stand. But then I guess it’s more fun than investing in a bank, and no more risky.
Editor, MEP Football , Gulf Cup , Iraq , Sports , United Arab Emirates , Videos , Western Asia
VIDEO
Good times in the UAE, as the Gulf Country beats Iraq to take the Gulf Cup in 2013.
James M. Dorsey Al Masri , Ali Abdullah Saleh , Cairo , Eduardo P. Archetti , Egypt , Egypt Protests , Egyptian Football Association , Football , Hosni Mubarak , Media organizations , Mohammed Morsi , Mohammed Morsi Government , Mubarak government , Muslim Brotherhood , Port Said , Port Said stadium , President , Suez , Suez Canal , travel ban , Ultras Ahlawy
JAMES DORSEY: It seems that ‘ultra’ football fans in Egypt are gearing up for greater and fiercer conflict in the months ahead.
James M. Dorsey Activist , Army , Baghdad , Bashar al-Assad , Damascus , East Africa , Facebook , Football , head of security. , Homs , Iraq , Joshua Landis , Kuwait , Lebanon , mechanic , Middle East , national team player , North Africa , President , Saudi Arabia , Soccer , South Korea , Syria
JAMES M. DORSEY: This weekend’s Syrian victory over Iraq in a soccer match is being seized by the regime as ‘a great national achievement’.
James M. Dorsey Ahmed Harara , America , Asian Football Confederation , Avi Luzon , BBC , FIFA , Football , Gaza , Hamas , Islamic Jihad , Israel , Israel Football Association , Israeli army , Jibril Rajoub , Mahmoud Sarsak , Mediterranean , Michel Platini , national team player , Palestine , Palestinian Football Association , Palestinian Territories , President , Sepp Blatter , Soccer , UEFA
JAMES M. DORSEY: Four young Palestinian footballers were killed in a bombing during Israel’s assault on Gaza. Enough is enough, say some top footballers.
Steve Royston Bahrain , Barcelona , Captain , Dubai , executive director , Football , Formula 1 , GFH Capital Limited , Gulf Daily News , Gulf Finance House , investment bank , Ken Bates , Leeds , majority shareholder , Premier League , President , Roman Abramovich , the Gulf Daily News
STEVE ROYSTON: You would have thought that the role of a respected Bahrain financial house in the purchase of an English football team would have been cause for celebration
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JONATHAN COOK: CNN was determined to follow the script of ‘equivelance’ when broadcasting an interview with a Gazan and an Israeli. Events took over, though.
Mondoweiss amputations , Associated Press , BBC , Canada , Europe , European Union , Facebook , Football , France , Gaza , Gaza Strip , Israel , Israeli military , Journalism , Netanyahu , Noam Chomsky , North America , Palestine , Soccer , Social Media , The New York Times , The Toronto Star , Toronto Star , United States
MONDOWEISS: The coverage of the Gaza attack by mainstream media has invoked the outrage of leading academics and commentators on Middle East affairs
James M. Dorsey AFC , Asian Football Confederation , Caribbean , Court of Arbitration for Sport , Dorsey , FIFA , Finance , financial management , Football , Kuala Lumpur , London , Michael J. Garcia , Mohammed bin Hammam , Mr. Bin , President , PricewaterhouseCoopers , Qatar , Qatar 2022 , Sepp Blatter , Singapore , UEFA , Zhang Jilong
JAMES M. DORSEY: The financial management of the Asian Football Confederation during Mohammed bin Hammam’s reign is under investigation
James M. Dorsey Australia , Barcelona , Canada , Denmark , Europe , European Union , FIFA , Food and Drink , Football , footballer , France , Gaza Strip , Gilad Shalit , Hamas , Islamic Jihad , Israel , Israeli government , Israeli Prison Service , Italy , Japan , Nablus , Negev , Norway , Palestine , Physicians for Human Rights , Red Cross , UEFA , United Kingdom , United States , West Bank
ANDREA LUCHETTA: Mahmoud Al Sarsak’s detention became an international cause celebre. He has recounted his experience in Israeli jail
James M. Dorsey Barcelona , BBC , Europe , Fatah , FIFA , Football , Gaza , Gaza City , Gaza Strip , Hamas , Human Rights Watch , Islamic Jihad , Israel , Jerusalem , Jibril Rajoub , Madrid , Mahmoud Abbas , Mahmoud Sarsak , Middle East , New York , Palestine , Palestinian Authority , Palestinian Football Association , Palestinian national movement , President , Ramallah , Real Madrid , Soccer , Spain , UEFA , United Nations , West Bank
JAMES M. DORSEY: Palestinians of all ages are huge fans of the Spanish football giants Barcelona FC. When Hamas called for a boycott of their match this week it fell on deaf ears.
James M. Dorsey Al Khalifa , Austria , Bahrain , Bahrain Central Bank , Bahrain Financial Harbour , Europe , Football , Gulf Finance House , India , Ken Bates , KPMG , Leeds , Leeds United Supporters Trust , majority shareholder , Middle East , Prime Minister , Real Estate , Reuters , Soccer , Swiss Super League , the independent , Twin Towers
JAMES M. DORSEY: Leeds United’s negotiations for a takeover by Bahrain’s Gulf Finance House (GFH) may not give it access to the funding that has boosted the fortunes of others…
James M. Dorsey Al Ahly , Al Masry , Cairo , Court of Arbitration of Sport , Egypt , Egypt Protests , Egyptian Football Association , Facebook , FIFA , Football , Hani Abou-Reida , Hosni Mubarak , Media organizations , Port Said , Soccer
JAMES M. DORSEY: Two leading football executives have withdrawn from election to the Egyptian Football Association. The Ultras have prevailed
James M. Dorsey Austria , Bahrain , CEO , Champion’s League , EUR , Football , Geneva , GFH Capital Limited , investment bank , Leeds , Leeds United Supporters Trust , Malaga , Middle East , Premier League , Qatar , Sultan Al Nahyan , Swiss Super League , the Champions League , United Arab Emirates , United Kingdom
JAMES M. DORSEY: The key question for Leeds supporters should be who is the investor and what is the purpose of the acquisition; those are questions that have yet to be answered.
James M. Dorsey Al Ahly , Al Ahram , Al Zamalek , Cairo , Court of Arbitration of Sport , Democracy , Egypt , Egypt Protests , Egyptian Football Association , Facebook , FIFA , Football , Hani Abou-Reida , Hosni Mubarak , National Democratic Party , Port Said , President , Switzerland , UN Court , United States , US embassy in Cairo
JAMES M. DORSEY: The opposing fans of Cairo soccer clubs Al Zamalek and Al Ahly are engaged in a separate but parallel struggle with the authorities
James M. Dorsey African Champions League , Al Zamalek , Azmy Megahed , Cairo , Cairo club Al Zamalek SC , Censorship , Champion’s League , Confederation of African Football , Democracy , Eduardo P. Archetti , Egypt , Egypt Protests , Egyptian Football Association , Egyptian police , Football , Ghana , Hosni Mubarak , Islamist , London School of Economics , Mohammed Morsi , Mohammed Morsi Government , Port Said , President , School of Oriental and African Studies , Soccer , sports minister , Suez , Suez Canal , Tunis , Tunisia
JAMES M. DORSEY: The Egyptian authorities are moving tentatively to check how radicalised football fans will react to the lifting of a ban on their attendance at matches.
James M. Dorsey Al Ahly , Al Ahly SC , Al Zamalek , Cairo , Egypt , Egyptian Football Association , Football , Ghana , guard , Hosni Mubarak , Mohammed Morsi , Mohammed Morsi Government , Port Said , Premier League , President , Soccer , Suez , Suez Canal , Tunis , Tunisia
JAMES M. DORSEY: The debate about soccer is as much about politics as it is about sports. It is a debate that is likely to be fought out politically rather than on the pitch.
