Latest in Tag: Football Highlight
Latest in Tag: Football
Qatar 2022 – A mixed blessing
By James M. Dorsey Winning the 2022 World Cup hosting rights has proven to be a mixed blessing for Qatar. The wealthy Gulf emirate, more than two years after world football body FIFA voted in Qatar’s favor, is under greater scrutiny than it ever has been and that it originally had bargained for. Qatar’s suitability …
Three Zamalek players arrested
Shikabala taken into custody after altercation with fan became physical
Football militants put their mark on Egyptian protests
In a perverse way, the ultras’ dilemma is not dissimilar from that of the Brotherhood, writes James M Dorsey
UAE exploits football to counter charges of human rights abuse
The UAE’s acquisition of football franchises is attracting attention away from its autocratic and reactionary policies, writes James M Dorsey
Turkish government bans political slogans during football matches
A ban on political slogans at football matches in Turkey reflects Erdogan’s attempts to criminalise fans, Dorsey argues
Football: Al-Ahly seek new date, to accommodate Ramadan
The Cairo club must also find a new venue for the Group A match day two fixture after the military owners of the Air Defence Stadium in the capital city refused to stage it.
Zamalek flies to Congo on Thursday
The Cairo-based club will meet Congolese Leopards on Sunday
Lebanese sports scandals fuel tensions
By James M Dorsey As Lebanon, a country in which almost every facet of life is defined by sectarian fault lines, teeters in the shadow of the civil war in next door Syria, the country is also being rocked by multiple mushrooming sports scandals. Months after a massive football match-fixing scandal became public and three …
Gulf rivalries spill onto the football pitch
By James M Dorsey The battle between Iran and various Gulf states for the identity of the energy-rich region has spilled onto its football pitches. It’s the Persian Gulf League v the Arabian Gulf League. The struggle erupted when the United Arab Emirates, alongside Saudi Arabia, the Gulf’s most fervent opponent of political Islam, recently …
FIFA reaffirms its role as a pillar of established order
By James M Dorsey A recent visit by world football body FIFA president SeppBlatter to the Middle East spotlighted the group’s role as a pillar of the existing political and football governance order under the guise of a fictional separation between sports and politics, rather than a force for greater transparency and accountability. To be …
Morsi turns to Syria and football to polish his tarnished image
By James M. Dorsey President Mohamed Morsi and his flailing Muslim Brotherhood have turned to foreign policy and soccer to improve their battered image in advance of a planned mass anti-government protest at the end of this month and mounting calls for his resignation. In a bid to distract attention from his domestic woes, curry …
Egypt defeats Mozambique in World Cup qualifiers
Pharaohs are one step away from reaching the World Cup after scraping by with a 1-0 victory
Football threatens to spark protests as Iran goes to the polls
By James M. Dorsey Iranian Supreme Leader Sayed Ali Khamenei has more to worry about in the run-up to Iran’s presidential election than ensuring that a sufficiently malleable candidate emerges as winner. Tuesday’s crucial victory in Iran’s 2014 World Cup qualifier against Lebanon raises the risk of potential celebrations turning into anti-government protests. That risk …
Egypt defeats Zimbabwe 4-2 in World Cup qualifiers
Salah’s hat-trick puts Egypt one step away from reaching the final round of World Cup qualifiers
Mido’s off the pitch
30 year old footballer announces his retirement
Disappointing draw for Egypt
Egypt settles for draw in international friendly against Botswana
UEFA decision on Gibraltar opens prospects for Kurds
By James M. Dorsey A decision by European football body UEFA granting Gibraltar the right of membership potentially opens the door to Kurdistan to seek association with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in a move that would acknowledge demands for increased autonomy and the possible shifting of national borders in the Middle East as a …
Bradley announces squad for World Cup qualifiers
Pharaohs head coach picks 31 man squad ahead of friendly match and two World Cup qualifiers
Local roundup: Al-Ahly and Zamalek level on points to retain top spots
Ismaily cements second place in Group B while ENEPPI and Smouha compete for the remaining playoff spot in Group A
Algeria: Middle East’s next revolt if football is a barometer
By James M. Dorsey Algeria is competing to be the next Arab nation to witness a popular revolt. That is assuming football is a barometer of rising discontent in a region experiencing a wave of mass protests that have already toppled the leaders of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen and sparked civil war in Syria. …
Local Roundup: Zamalek and Ghazl El-Mahalla qualify to second round in Egyptian Cup
Elsewhere Ghazl El-Mahalla scored four during their match with Ghazl Kafr Al-Dawar to qualify
Football emerges as focal point of dissent in Saudi Arabia
By James M. Dorsey Football, alongside minority Shi’a Muslims and relatives of imprisoned government critics, is emerging as a focal point of dissent in Saudi Arabia, an oil-rich kingdom that, despite banning demonstrations by law, is struggling to fend off the waves of change sweeping the Middle East and North Africa. Fan pressure is …
Families of Port Said martyrs receive compensation
Ministry of Youth issues EGP 100,000 per family
Local football roundup: Ismaily fails to close the gap with Zamalek, Arab Contractors crushes El-Intag
Tala’ea El-Geish grabs the 3rd place from El-Shorta after defeating them
Champions crowned across Europe
Many top-flight leagues have already been decided
Football: Man Utd statement on Ferguson departure
Ferguson, 71, has been in charge at Old Trafford for 26 years, guiding United to 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns
Egypt’s under-20 Football Team parades their African Cup
Vodafone hosts grand party in honour of team’s victory in the African Cup and World Cup qualification
Egyptian players impress in Europa League
Salah and Elneny put in great performances to help their team progress to semi-finals
Chelsea-Basel, Benfica-Fenerbahce in Europa semis
Europa League semi-final draw at UEFA headquarters in Switzerland
Premier League approves goal-line technology
The Premier League, the world’s most popular domestic football championship, is in line to become the first of Europe’s major leagues to introduce the technology