Asian Football Focus

Report: Egyptian Soccer Matches Threaten To Be A Foreshadow Of Mass Anti-Government Protest

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Controversial soccer matches this weekend constitute a potential walk-up to a watershed mass anti-government demonstration on June 30 that has Egyptians of all political stripes bracing themselves for political violence and increased uncertainty The soccer matches and mounting tension in advance of the protest are likely to be seen by militant, highly politicized, violence-prone and street battle-hardened … Read more

Soccer Threaten To Spark Protests As Iran Goes To The Polls

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With four days left in the run-up to Iran’ presidential election, Supreme Leader Sayed Ali Khamenei has more to worry about than ensuring that a sufficiently malleable candidate emerges as winner. A crucial victory on Tuesday in Iran’s 2014 World Cup qualifier could bring thousands into the streets in celebrations that have in the past turned into … Read more

To Locate The Next Arab Spring Revolution, Look To The Soccer Stands

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Written by James Dorsey James M.  Dorsey is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies,  director of the University of Würzburg’s Institute of Fan Culture, and the  author of The Turbulent World of Middle East  Soccer blog. It’s been said that soccer tells us all we need to know about life, parenting, evenglobalization. Now a Singapore-based … Read more

Asian Soccer Elects Controversial Bahraini As President

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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has elected a prominent Bahraini soccer executive to complete the term of ousted president Mohammed Bin Hammam in a poll that has been marred by allegations of interference and controversy over the candidates’ track records. Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, head of the Bahrain Football Association, also defeated his … Read more

Soccer Fans In The Gulf Vote With Their Feet – A Report

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Soccer is defeating efforts by wealthy, football-crazy Gulf states to impregnate themselves against the wave of protests that have swept the Middle East and North Africa in the past two years and sparked a brutal civil war in Syria. Once a prince’s uncontested playing ground that allowed royals to curry favor, strengthen their families grip … Read more

Asian Football Focus: AFC Election Marred By Interference Allegations And Candidates’ Track Records

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Next week’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) presidential elections designed to elect a leader to clean up two years of alleged financial mismanagement and unethical business conduct and polish the group’s tarnished image are increasingly marred by doubts that real reform is on the horizon, allegations of interference in the poll and controversy over the candidates’ … Read more

Asian Football Focus: Bahrain Soccer Chief Faces Tough Questions In AFC Election

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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), struggling to restore credibility after two scandal-riddled years involving allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption, has had a foretaste of questions and issues that are likely to be raised if Bahrain Football Association head Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa , widely viewed as a frontrunner, wins the group’s May … Read more