James M. Dorsey

Gadaffi Son a Study in using Sport for Politics

Gadaffi Son a Study in using Sport for Politics

JAMES M. DORSEY: Gadaffi’s controversial soccer-playing son, Saadi, offers a study in the use of soccer by authoritarian Arab regimes to distract attention from real issues.

 James M. Dorsey

New Libyan Stadium Sets Stage for Confrontation

New Libyan Stadium Sets Stage for Confrontation

JAMES DORSEY: Gaddafi intends the opening of the Benghazi stadium to be a show of popular support, but activists fear it could become the setting for clashes.

 James M. Dorsey

Iran Postpones Tehran Football Matches

Iran Postpones Tehran Football Matches

JAMES DORSEY: Iran’s Football Federation has postponed league matches in Tehran to prevent celebrations of the 32nd anniversary of the Islamic revolution turning into anti-government protests.

 James M. Dorsey

FIFA Concedes Traded Votes in World Cup Bids

FIFA Concedes Traded Votes in World Cup Bids

JAMES DORSEY: If Blatter’s admission is correct, those votes would account for seven of the 12 votes that won Qatar its right to host the world’s biggest sporting event.

 David Roberts

Asian Cup Woes A Gift for Qatar 2022 Critics

Asian Cup Woes A Gift for Qatar 2022 Critics

DAVID ROBERTS: Huge queues, chronic transportation, empty seats and a less than fulsome welcome for travelling fans – a very long ‘To Do’ list for Qatar 2022.

 James M. Dorsey

Ultra’s Organization Evident in Tahrir Square

Ultra’s Organization Evident in Tahrir Square

JAMES DORSEY: The organizational skills of the ultras, fanatical Cairo soccer fans, are emerging as opponents and supporters of President Mubarak.

 James M. Dorsey

Libya, Algeria Cut Football to Thwart Protests

Libya, Algeria Cut Football to Thwart Protests

JAMES DORSEY: Oil-rich Libya and gas-rich Algeria have indefinitely extended their suspension of all soccer matches with anti-government demonstrations looming.

 James M. Dorsey

Muddled US Policy Reflected in Footy ‘Friendly’

Muddled US Policy Reflected in Footy ‘Friendly’

JAMES DORSEY: The USSF’s reluctance to cancel the match contrasts starkly with the Egyptian Football Association’s decision on Thursday to cancel all premier league matches…

 James M. Dorsey

European Clubs See Opportunity in Middle East’s Failure in Asia Cup

European Clubs See Opportunity in Middle East’s Failure in Asia Cup

JAMES M. DORSEY: Mounting criticism of Middle Eastern nations’ failure to nurture soccer talent has created a business opportunity for European clubs.

 James M. Dorsey

Soccer Fans Play Key Role in Egyptian Protests

Soccer Fans Play Key Role in Egyptian Protests

JAMES M. DORSEY: The involvement of organized soccer fans in Egypt’s anti-government protests constitutes every Arab government’s worst nightmare.

 James M. Dorsey

Demographics, Expats, Rights – & Hope in Football

Demographics, Expats, Rights – & Hope in Football

JAMES M. DORSEY: Just 13% of the UAE’s population has citizenship. In Qatar it’s 26% and Kuwait 34%. And those percentages are dropping.

 James M. Dorsey

Gloves Off: Blatter “Served Too Long”, Hammam

Gloves Off: Blatter “Served Too Long”, Hammam

JAMES M. DORSEY: Mohamed bin Hammam lashed out on Monday, charging that Blatter had served too long as head of soccer’s world governing body.

 James M. Dorsey

Governments Undermining MidEast Soccer

Governments Undermining MidEast Soccer

JAMES M. DORSEY: In a soccer-crazy world of authoritarian regimes, football offers one of society’s few release valves.

 James M. Dorsey

Iran Bans Women from Cinemas Showing Cup

Iran Bans Women from Cinemas Showing Cup

JAMES M. DORSEY: Khamenei and other hard-line government officials and clerics argue that the presence of women at men’s sporting events violates Islamic law.

 James M. Dorsey

Dismal Saudi Play in Asian Cup Sparks Debate

Dismal Saudi Play in Asian Cup Sparks Debate

JAMES M. DORSEY: A three-time Asian champion and finalist in six of the last seven Asian Cup tournaments, Saudi Arabia failed to advance in Qatar, losing all three matches it played.

 James M. Dorsey

MidEast Nations Fight For FIFA Tournaments

MidEast Nations Fight For FIFA Tournaments

JAMES M. DORSEY: Middle Eastern nations are competing to stack up successful bids to host major soccer events in an effort to position themselves as regional hubs for sport.

 James M. Dorsey

Soccer: A Potential Flashpoint for Jordanian Society

Soccer: A Potential Flashpoint for Jordanian Society

JAMES M. DORSEY: Mounting tension in Jordan is unlikely to produce the same result as protests in Tunisia, but promises to make soccer an increasing flashpoint…

 James M. Dorsey

Qatar Gains Upper Hand in Battle for FIFA

Qatar Gains Upper Hand in Battle for FIFA

JAMES M. DORSEY: Qatar is flexing its muscle, rejecting calls by Sepp Blatter to move the tournament to winter or co-host it with other Gulf states.

 James M. Dorsey

Money Talks: Qatar’s WC Bid Fits SWF Strategy

Money Talks: Qatar’s WC Bid Fits SWF Strategy

JAMES M. DORSEY: Flush with cash, Qatar spared no cost in its campaign to win the bid the World Cup. But are there ethical questions here?

 David Roberts

Qatar World Cup in Jan? No Surprise There…

Qatar World Cup in Jan?  No Surprise There…

DAVID ROBERTS: So Sepp Blatter has begun the softening up for the first ever Winter World Cup. It makes sense, you know….