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The Beast from the East – The Rise and Stall, of the Saudi Pro League
It might be boring by modern standards, but this summer’s transfer window still had some surprises, whether it was Victor Osimhen’s move to Turkey, Brighton’s spending spree, or Liverpool only making two signings (one of which was loaned immediately back to his former club). However, one thing that probably doesn’t come as a surprise is…
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Sportswashing and Image Repair: A Case Study of Nigerian Public Response to Qatar: Part 2
Relationship Between Sportswashing and Image Repair The relationship between sportswashing and image repair constitutes a central theme in the analysis of Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Sportswashing, defined as a nation’s deliberate use of mega-sporting events to bolster its international image and deflect criticism , hinges on the assumption that association…
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Sportswashing and Image Repair: A Case Study of Nigerian Public Response to Qatar: Part 1
Sportswashing is a phenomenon where political leaders utilize sports to present themselves as important or legitimate on the world stage while simultaneously diverting attention from social issues and human-rights problems within their own country and stirring up nationalistic sentiment. These leaders often leverage major sporting events to bolster national image and project progress, notwithstanding…
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The Football Universe – The Rise of the Multi-club Ownership Model in Modern Football
Last month, reigning Premier League champions Manchester City made their first signing of the summer, signing Brazilian winger Savio from French 3rd division side Troyes for an estimated £31 million. Anyone signing for City or swapping the French 3rd division for the top of English football raises eyebrows, but this one was different. Why,…
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The Perils of Mismanagement at the Highest Level | Leicester City’s Loss of Identity
For the traditional Premier League supporter, Leicester City is the club that defied belief during the competition’s 24th season – overcoming an assault from the perennial powerhouses to achieve the unthinkable. The title of domestic champions during that unforgettable 2015 -16 campaign is undoubtedly the pinnacle of their 140-year history, with Claudio Ranieri’s crew etching…
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Azerbaijan Premier League 2024-25 Season Preview
The 2024/25 Azerbaijan Premier League season promises to be another exciting campaign, as teams gear up to challenge for the title and avoid the dreaded drop. The transfer market has been bustling, with clubs bolstering their squads in anticipation of a highly competitive season. Qarabağ prediction: 1st Last season’s position: 1st Unsurprisingly, Qarabağ…
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The Strangest Managerial Arrival in the Turkish Süper Lig
Gazing into a wall of yellow and blue jerseys, Jose Mourinho and the simultaneously smug yet surprised expressions of Ali Koç, the club’s divisive and volatile President cannot help but look emblematic of the problems of the disparity in wealth and resources that plague Turkish football today. Years of misspent funds, ‘paper-over-the-cracks’ types of…
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After Sacking Berhalter, What’s the Next Step for the USMNT?
The United States Men’s National Team once again finds itself in need of leadership on the touchline after Gregg Berhalter and the USSF parted ways in the aftermath of a disastrous 2024 Copa América campaign on home soil. In an end result that seems to suit the vast majority of the supporter base after…
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Overcoming a Global Powerhouse – The Charming Underdog Story of Christian Ilzer’s Sturm Graz
Following a 13-year wait to reclaim the title of domestic kingpins and loosen the Red Bull stranglehold on Austrian football, Sportklub Sturm Graz defied the odds to become a four-time Bundesliga champion in 2024. To lift your country’s elite league title is a privilege for any football team, but to dislodge the superpower of Salzburg…
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Azerbaijan Premier League 2023-24 Season Review
The curtain came down on another Azerbaijan Premier League campaign, as season 2023-24 reached its conclusion. Gurban Gurbanov’s side won the league in the most satisfying way while their rivals imploded and managers exploded. Qarabağ’s thrilling journey Gurban Gurbanov’s Qarabağ once again asserted their dominance. Qarabağ’s Premier League triumph after 28 games played…
