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Middle East Sport Politics

Fields of Freedom
Syria’s future is shrouded in uncertainty, and its football aspirations are no exception. Can the Syrian national team emerge as a symbol of a new era…
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Karim Zidan
3
Football's role in the struggle for power in Syria
With Syria back in the news, I wanted to share my piece from 2017 about how Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad uses football as a means to exert political…
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Karim Zidan
3
How Saudi Arabia reshaped the sports world in its image
New research conducted by Play The Game shows the Kingdom has more than 900 sponsorships and 1400 positions that encompass the labyrinth of influence…
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Karim Zidan
3
The unbearable silence in women’s football
While women footballers have been trailblazers in advocating for gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and refugee support, many remain conspicuously silent…
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Shireen Ahmed
Defying war, Gaza’s footballers play on
Despite the looming threats of death and destruction, Gaza’s footballers came together for the tournament, determined to reclaim a fleeting sense of…
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Karim Zidan
2
Don’t trust Neymar
Much like Messi, Neymar’s contract with Saudi Arabia likely includes a non-disparagement clause, limiting his ability to speak openly about his…
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Karim Zidan
Sudan’s football success casts light on an overlooked war
Sudan’s recent football success offers us an opportunity to pay attention to a civil war that has largely been overlooked amid other global conflicts.
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Karim Zidan
These dictators are bonding over fight sports
Ramzan Kadyrov’s presence at a boxing event in Saudi Arabia underscores the growing alliance among dictators with a penchant for combat sports.
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Karim Zidan
3
Through sports, a lens on the Gaza war
One year after the October 7 attacks that killed over 1,300 in Israel, we've seen the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza and a growing war in the…
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Karim Zidan
FIFA stalls on Israel sanctions...again
Football’s governing body keeps postponing the decision to ban Israel, even as the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians escalates and conflict intensifies…
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Karim Zidan
2
Abu Dhabi is betting big on surfing
The creation of the world’s largest artificial wave marks Abu Dhabi’s latest attempt to present itself at the nexus of sports, entertainment, and luxury…
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Karim Zidan
What it costs to bow to Saudi Arabia
The choice to feature the Saudi national anthem at a UK boxing event while banning a journalist shows that the kingdom isn’t just joining the global…
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Karim Zidan
5
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