Jonathan Cook

Israel’s ‘Football Coup’ Prompts BDS Focus on Sport

Israel’s ‘Football Coup’ Prompts BDS Focus on Sport

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?

 James M. Dorsey

Top International Footballers Call for Action Against Israel

Top International Footballers Call for Action Against Israel

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.

 James M. Dorsey

Bin Hammam Investigation Grows: AFC In Frame

Bin Hammam Investigation Grows: AFC In Frame

JAMES M. DORSEY: The financial management of the Asian Football Confederation during Mohammed bin Hammam’s reign is under investigation

 James M. Dorsey

Palestinian Footballer Relives Horror of Detention

Palestinian Footballer Relives Horror of Detention

ANDREA LUCHETTA: Mahmoud Al Sarsak’s detention became an international cause celebre. He has recounted his experience in Israeli jail

 James M. Dorsey

Defensive Blunder: Hamas’ Football Boycott Call

Defensive Blunder: Hamas’ Football Boycott Call

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

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

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

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

Etihad’s Controversial $642m City Deal

Etihad’s Controversial $642m City Deal

JAMES M. DORSEY: The agreement dwarfs Arsenal FC’s 2004 deal with Dubai’s Emirates Airways that was valued at $144 million over 15 years.

 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

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

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

Qatar WC 2022: A Middle East Game Changer?

Qatar WC 2022: A Middle East Game Changer?

JAMES M. DORSEY: So deep-seated is soccer passion that governments would be acting at their own peril and would likely conclude that they have no alternative but to allow their teams to play Israel.