Understanding authoritarianism through soccer
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was once an athlete. Now, he uses sport for his own purposes—even as fans use it to express dissent. Continue reading Understanding authoritarianism through soccer
Category: Sport
The Syrian football star caught up in revolution and forced into refuge
Firas al-Ali, a former player for Al Shorta and the Syrian national team, has lost friends, family members and his home in the violence that has engulfed Syria. Continue reading The Syrian football star caught up in revolution and forced into refuge
Greek game in crisis and Nottingham Forest’s Marinakis is at the heart of it
The Olympiakos owner’s influence in football, business and politics has soared in recent years. But now he is at odds with the government and his rivals scent blood. Continue reading Greek game in crisis and Nottingham Forest’s Marinakis is at the heart of it
The new Greek oligarchs’ path to power: Soccer
Greece’s economic crises have created opportunities for an evolving breed of oligarchs to tighten the relationship between football, business and politics. The beautiful game is a vehicle to realise ambitions that reach far beyond the sport. Continue reading The new Greek oligarchs’ path to power: Soccer
Love songs of Turkish football
There is often also a poetic intensity to the love expressed in Turkish football songs. Many are suffused with longing and infatuation. Continue reading Love songs of Turkish football
Writing by Patrick Keddie 