Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
Majesty Mohammed VI and General Gaïd Salah Tear Down This Wall! Soccer could federate and be an element to bring people together and enhance their passions, interests and their countries union. By Abdennour Toumi Soccer is a social activity within the community, about team spirit and sharing that is contrary to geo-politics or local politics,…
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Tiki-Taka Viva Algeria: Yes, [we] CAN 19 After winning the second coupe d’Afrique, people should think how to build with the Military, the politicians and the elite the second republic. By Abdennour Toumi Last night all Algerian cities of the 48 Provinces so that the main French suburb large cities where Algerian community resides went…
Soccer and Politics in a Day of Glory There is a vicious circle here, the French mainstream media act with hypocrisy because of the perception the Adopter has developed vis-à-vis the Adopted. By Abdennour Toumi Soccer is a social activity within the community that is contrary to circumstantial triumphalism and seed nationalism; it is about…
Russia: 2018 World Humanity Festival FIFA World Cup has become a kind of U.N. National Assembly people’s gathering, with a complicit web of relations among the players. By Abdennour Toumi In a couple hours the eyes of the world will be turned to Russia for the opening ceremony of the 21st Football/Soccer FIFA World Cup…
Zineddine Zidane, A Gaulian Departure Only genius tactician knows how to deal with these instinctive moments of courage, glory and pride. By Abdennour Toumi Once again, Zineddine Zidane (ZZ) stunned the world-wide fans of the round soccer ball, the media, and even his boss, Real Madrid President Florentini Pérez, by calling a press conference to…
How Soccer is Becoming a Major Player for Qatar Soft Power France football/soccer, a new direction for Doha to seed influence and international presence By Abdennour Toumi Neymar’s transfer from F.C Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain is good news for the club, the city, and the Qatari Royal family, according to the French media and political…
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Urge FIFA to drop illegal Israeli soccer teams. FIFA urged to take action against soccer clubs representing illegal settlements in the Israeli occupied West Bank. Arab American Institute leads campaign to urge FIFA to adhere to its rules banning clubs organized on occupied territories that discriminate on the basis of religion and/or race Ahead of the…
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UEFA Euro 2016: Fraternity, Unity and Diversity. France’s squad footballers cultural and ethnic origin, particularly for second and third generation football stars immigrants are victims of institutionalized racism. By Abdennour Toumi The UEFA Euro 2016 championship edition is one of world soccer’s most watched events. France is the hosting country and the most favored to win…
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Palestinian athletes are prohibited from participating in foreign competition by Israeli Apartheid closures of the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Beitar Jerusalem, the racist Israeli sports team that discriminates against Christians and Muslims, uses Apartheid to ban Haaretz from covering its games By Mohammed Asad Al-Jazira Sports Club in the Gaza Strip held a Paralympic sports event for Gaza’s…
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Algerians salute Palestinian football team Algerian football players and fans salute the struggle of the Palestinian people during a soccer match between the Algerian Olympic football team and the Palestinian Football team, played in Algeria. By Mohammed Asad Palestinians in the Gaza Strip watch on big screens a friendly football (soccer) match between the Palestinian…
Saudi Arabia and Iran, highlighting the domestic drivers of mounting tension that threatens to deepen and complicate sectarian and multiple other regional conflicts, have taken their fierce tit-for-tat battle from the realm of traditional diplomacy to the world of public diplomacy
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani suffered in the run-up to crucial elections in early 2016 what amounted to at least a symbolic defeat when state-run television banned Iran’s most popular soccer program from running an interview with his foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, on soccer and politics.
International trade unions have stepped up pressure on Qatar with a series of demands, a majority of which the Gulf state could implement without having to reform its autocracy or threaten the privileged position of its citizenry who account for a mere 12 percent of the population and fear that change could cost them control of their culture and society.
The escalating Turkish-Russian crisis following Turkey’s downing in November of a Russian war plane promises to spill onto European soccer pitches with FC Lokomotiv Moscow set to play Fenerbahce SK, notorious for its fiery fan base, in a Europa League match.
A $400 million sale by a senior member of the UAE ruling family of a 13 percent stake in Manchester City FC to China highlights the importance of soccer in the two countries’ ambitions to project themselves on the international stage.
Turkish fans twice in two months disrupted moments of silence for victims of Islamic State attacks in Ankara and Paris in a demonstration of the kind of intolerance bred by religiously-cloaked authoritarianism in countries like Turkey and Saudi Arabia
Embattled World Cup host Qatar sends mixed messages By James M. Dorsey Embattled World Cup host Qatar is sending contradictory messages as it struggles with demands to improve migrant labour conditions and mounting questions about the integrity of its successful FIFA bid, confronts the fall-out of dropping energy prices, and seeks to project itself as…
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By James M. Dorsey Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, chairman of Manchester City, one of Britain’s most popular soccer clubs and a close business associate of UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has warned the UK that his country would block multi-billion dollar arms deals, halt investment in Britain and suspend intelligence cooperation if…
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