New York Times (August 28)
“The Milwaukee Bucks set off a fast-moving wave of protest in professional sports when they refused to play their scheduled playoff game…. The rest of the league quickly joined the strike.” The ripple soon spread to “postponements of games in the W.N.B.A., Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer.” The players “have delivered a message that the entire country needs to hear: When it comes to social justice, it’s better to think and act like a team.”
Tags: Major League Baseball, Milwaukee Bucks, NHL, Playoff game, Postponements, Professional sports, Protest, Soccer, Social justice, W.N.B.A.
Wall Street Journal (June 9)
With the unfolding FIFA scandal, the legitimacy of Russia’s successful bid to host the World Cub may be called into question. To some, the bribery is irrelevant. “Why not at least threaten a boycott of the Cup for as long as Russian troops remain in Ukraine? The average Russian couldn’t care less that the deputy prime minister is under international sanctions for Moscow’s seizure of Crimea. But soccer-mad Russians would care, a lot, if the games were taken from them.”
USA Today (May 29)
The work of U.S. federal prosecutors “will not be done until they find a way to force the soccer governing body to enact meaningful reforms and get rid of leaders who, at the very least, tolerated the corruption.”
Tags: Corruption, FIFA, Governing, Leaders, Prosecutors, Reforms, Soccer, U.S.
Financial Times (June 4)
Just as the World Cup is about to kick off in Brazil “the prestige sporting event has been tarnished by allegations of corruption at Fifa, world football’s governing body, over the choice of Qatar to host the 2022 competition.” But alleged bribes are hardly Fifa’s first red card. “Fifa is a body that has been mired in corruption allegations for so long – and which has been so lame in mending its shoddy governance – that it demands a complete overhaul.”
Tags: 2022, Allegations, Brazil, Corruption, FIFA, Football, Governance, Overhaul, Qatar, Soccer, World Cup
Wall Street Journal (July 19)
They may have won the World Cup, but Japan’s women’s soccer team, “considered strong contenders for Olympic gold in London, had to squeeze into economy seats on a 12-hour flight to Europe this week, while members of the less successful men’s soccer team, enjoyed the plush amenities of business class further up the cabin.” Last year’s World Cup win raised “hopes that the surprise victory would change attitudes toward women playing the beautiful game in Japan,” but those hopes “appear to have been premature.”They may have won the World Cup, but Japan’s women’s soccer team, “considered strong contenders for Olympic gold in London, had to squeeze into economy seats on a 12-hour flight to Europe this week, while members of the less successful men’s soccer team, enjoyed the plush amenities of business class further up the cabin.” Last year’s World Cup win raised “hopes that the surprise victory would change attitudes toward women playing the beautiful game in Japan,” but those hopes “appear to have been premature.”
Wall Street Journal (June 25)
The stakes are high for the North Korean World Cup team. Their 7-0 defeat by Portugal was shown live on North Korean TV. Dear Leader could not have been pleased. During their next game against Ivory Coast, the team “may literally be playing for their lives.” If they lose, the WSJ believes the coach and players should be offered asylum so they don’t have to return to North Korea and face the awful consequences.
Tags: Asylum, FIFA, North Korea, Soccer, World Cup
The Chosun Ilbo (June 21)
Win or lose, North Korea will gain at least $10 million from FIFA for its World Cup appearance. If the North advances to the next round, the figure will rise. This money is significant to the North. $10 million is equivalent to three-months of wages for the 43,000 North Koreans who work in the Kaesong Industrial Complex.
Tags: FIFA, North Korea, Soccer, World Cup
