By James M. Dorsey Introduction Continued doubts about the longevity of the Saudi ruling family are fuelled by its Faustian bargain with Wahhabism -a conser vative, intolerant, discriminatory and anti-pluralistic interpretation of Islam.[i] It is a bargain that has produced one of the largest dedicated public diplomacy campaigns in history. Estimates of Saudi Arabia’s spending … [Read more…]
https://mideastsoccer.blogspot.com/2016/07/turkeys-anti-gulen-campaign.htmlBy James M. Dorsey A Turkish demand that Pakistan close 28 primary and secondary schools associated with controversial, self-exiled Turkish preacher Fethullah Gulen has put the government in Islamabad in a quandary as it attempts to get a grip on an education sector in which militant Islamists and jihadists figure prominently. Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan … [Read more…]
Russian doping, Olympics, WADA, Richard McLaren, Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Cheating at sports, mafia, match-fixing Quelle: Russian doping, Olympics, WADA, Richard McLaren, Rio de Janeiro
Zur Heim-WM 2006 feierte Public Viewing in Deutschland seinen Höhepunkt. Traditionell kommen zu Europameisterschaften deutlich weniger Menschen, doch die EURO 2016 ist ein neuer Tiefpunkt. Die Besucherzahlen haben sich im Vergleich zur WM 2014 fast halbiert. Quelle: Public Viewing wird in Deutschland unbeliebter – Faszination Fankurve
By James M. Dorsey Believers say he preaches a new, modern form of Islam. Critics charge he is a power hungry wolf in sheep’s clothing preparing to convert secular Turkey into an Islamic republic; a conspirator who has created a state within the state and attempted this weekend to topple democratically elected Turkish President Recep … [Read more…]
By James M. Dorsey Port Said, the Suez Canal city associated with the worst incident in Egyptian sporting history, is emerging as a prime locus of soccer-driven protest in a country that does not brook dissent. Repeated protests in the city are laden with soccer’s tangled involvement and key role in the 2011 popular revolt … [Read more…]
By James M. Dorsey Mohammed Simsim, the president of the Saudi Arabian Weightlifting Federation, embodies existential dilemmas involved in Saudi deputy crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s effort to reform and diversify the kingdom’s energy dependent and public sector driven economy. To achieve his goal of turning the kingdom into a 21st century economy that no … [Read more…]
Die Fanbotschaften, die während der Europameisterschaft in Frankreich zahlreiche Fans aus ganz Europa betreuten, haben nun ein Fazit zum Turnier verfasst. Darin kritisieren sie das Verhalten der französische Polizei, vor allem in der Vorrunde. Später hätte man die Fanbotschaften mit einbezogen. Quelle: Fanbotschaften kritisieren französische Polizei – Faszination Fankurve
HSBC laundered money for criminals and thugs. with HSBC whistleblower Everett Stern. His work helped reveal the web of corruption within the bank. Today, Quelle: HSBC: A Get out of Jail-Free Pass – Declan Hill
By James M. Dorsey If the Islamic State (IS) was serious about attacking Euro 2016, its plans clearly never materialized. Leaked transcripts of the interrogation of one of the attackers of Brussels Airport in March leave little doubt however that soccer figures prominently on the group’s target list. So does this month’s beheading in Raqqa … [Read more…]