Joined January 2016
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1,183 Photos and videos
Putting aside whether FIFA is using its resources wisely or engaging in graft (I know, big elephant to put aside), "non-profit" = no shareholders/partners, not no profits. FIFA needs profits to benefit its mission, including distributing to member FAs to grow the sport.
For people asking why FIFA, nominally a non-profit, is trying to maximize profits:
This is what your ticket prices are paying for. A completely gratuitous waste of resources, further enabled by the Qatari regime.
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Ruling that a valid defense to the charge that a hand gesture was intentionally offensive is that "I repeated this movement many times while holding a pen between my fingers" creates some perverse incentives. Kind of like saying it can't be fraud because I didn't try to hide it
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Ruling that a valid defense to the charge that a hand gesture was intentionally offensive is that "I repeated this movement many times while holding a pen between my fingers" creates some perverse incentives. Kind of like saying it can't be fraud because I didn't try to hide it
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Plaintiffs lose the case for a temporary restraining order on the FIFA flag ban, but it doesn't necessarily end the legal fight if they wanted to bring a similar suit in Washington state before Iran's game in Seattle. The decided case was based on the CA constitution.
Jun 15
Exc: FIFA win case to ban Iran fans from bringing lion sun flag to SoFi Stadium for World Cup opener vs New Zealand.
Emergency hearing in LA this morning, with judge ruling arguments on free speech not sufficient.
Full details from inside court ⬇️
nytimes.com/athletic/7362735…
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Jun 15
Should be an interesting hearing at 9 or so Pacific Time today in LA Superior Court on the lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction on FIFA’s ban on displays of Iran’s pre-revolution flag during the Iran-NZ game this afternoon
Jun 15
Anti-Iranian regime protesters vow to unleash “hell” at the SoFi on Monday and say they will boo the national anthem & turn their backs on the Iran players they consider propaganda tools for the Islamic Republic
Huge demonstrations expected
Iran due to kick off their WC campaign against New Zealand in Group G
⬇️
telegraph.co.uk/football/202…
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Jun 15
Key issues are whether flag is protected expression and whether FIFA is applying its political symbol ban arbitrarily, with plaintiffs asserting the flag is a cultural symbol
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Jun 15
The plaintiffs are also seeking a temporary restraining order that could be issued in time to affect fans at the game this afternoon
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Jun 11
If you're looking for some light reading before today's Mexico v. South Africa game and want to learn about how FIFA resisted and then tried to undo the boycott against South Africa during the apartheid regime, check out the draft of my latest paper
Jun 11
Just in time for the start of the World Cup, here's a draft of my new piece:
"The Duality of FIFA Neutrality: Law, Politics, and the 2026 World Cup"
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.…
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Jun 11
A FIFA exec saying that hosting World Cup games will "put Los Angeles on the map" is either the height of hubris or the depths of ignorance. Either way, it is on brand.
Jun 11
One of my favorite anecdotes from the build-up to this World Cup, which reveals so much about the collision between FIFA and U.S. cities.
The day a FIFA exec told Los Angeles that LA needed to be “put on the map.”
@TheAthleticFC
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Jun 11
Many people have focused on protests disrupting the games in the U.S., but the opener in Mexico may be the World Cup of protests with 8 separate protests (on different issues) all expected to converge on the stadium today
Jun 11
🚨🇲🇽 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: EIGHT simultaneous protests are expected around Mexico City today, coinciding with the opening day of the 2026 World Cup.
Groups expected to mobilize include:
• CNTE (teachers’ union)
• Searching mothers’ collectives
• Federal Judiciary workers
• Pemex & CFE pensioners (state oil and electricity companies)
• Transport workers
• Farmers’ organizations
• Healthcare workers
• Families and collectives of the disappeared
All these PROTESTS are expected to converge near the stadium area, with major disruptions anticipated throughout the day.
Many streets and main avenues are expected to be CLOSED due to the disruptions.
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Jun 11
Just in time for the start of the World Cup, here's a draft of my new piece:
"The Duality of FIFA Neutrality: Law, Politics, and the 2026 World Cup"
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.…
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Jun 5
Love it . . . but you've got to admire how they turned this course reversal into a free advertisement for Smartwater, a product of Coca-Cola, which is a "top-tier" official partner of the FIFA World Cup.
All fans will be permitted to bring in one, soft, plastic, 20 ounces (590ml), factory sealed disposable water bottle into any FIFA World Cup 2026 match in the USA and Canada. ✅
As FIFA World Cup 2026 Chief Operating Officer, Heimo Schirgi, explains, fans will not be permitted to bring in hard sided, reusable water bottles due to safety and security reasons. ❌
We can’t wait to welcome the world to the biggest FIFA World Cup in history! 🌎🏆⚽
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Jun 5
This bears watching.
FFIRI Pres. says they have visas to Mexico, where their base camp is located, but won't travel there w/o US visas for all and insist on multi-entry visas since they have to go back and forth for games.
Iran’s World Cup preparations remain in logistical uncertainty despite confirmation of entry clearance into Mexico for its training base.
According to reports, the Iranian delegation has secured visas processed through the Mexican Embassy for all squad members, but travel plans remain on hold amid unresolved diplomatic tensions affecting final arrangements ahead of the tournament.
The situation leaves preparations in limbo despite initial assurances that entry procedures had been fully completed.
📷: Getty Images
insidethegames.biz/articles/…
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Jun 4
I know it will surprise everyone to learn that FIFA's hosting contracts entitle the organization to all concession fees
Jun 3
Exclusive @TheAthleticFC
FIFA make last-gasp change to World Cup stadium rules: BANNING fans from bringing refillable plastic bottles, so fans must buy water in stadia
As of May, empty bottles permitted so fans could refill amid heat concerns. Not now
nytimes.com/athletic/7331461…
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Jun 2
It looks like Ventura County FC's operators, Oaks Sports Holding Group, might be ending their relationship with the Galaxy in MLSNP and starting a new team in USL League One. Could be MLSNP's new private equity investors reduce the benefits for independent operators
Jun 1
Hearing the USL included five new clubs in its application to U.S. Soccer for (continued) sanctioning for the 2027 season. USL Championship: Atletico Dallas; USL League One: Sporting Cascades FC (Eugene), Port St. Lucie SC, Fort Lauderdale United FC, Ventura County Pro Soccer (name tbd)
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Jun 2
Mark Noorzai, the principal owner of Oaks Sports Holding, tried to start a stand-alone lower division club in the area before when he submitted an application to NISA for a new club starting in 2023.
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Jun 2
Enjoyed speaking with @LauriePerez for the video segment of this piece on the World Cup safety plans for Los Angeles and how it might impact fan experience/attendance
Jun 2
Los Angeles County leaders outline 2026 FIFA World Cup safety plans cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/…
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May 25
MLS needs to loan some of these goals to FIFA for the World Cup
May 25
8 GOALS IN THE FIRST HALF!?!
GET TO APPLE TV OR FOX NOW.
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May 22
A reminder that the indictments were abruptly dropped against those convicted FIFA corruption scandal defendants mere days after Trump was awarded the FIFA Peace Prize.
May 22
Two additional defendants had been appealing to the Supreme Court when the DOJ abruptly moved to drop their indictments in December. Now Judge Chen is reviewing that motion next week and Marin's estate and 3 other defendants want their indictments dropped too.
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May 19
NASL lost its appeal of the jury verdict against it in its antitrust lawsuit against US Soccer and MLS. The court ruled that NASL's claim that it was erroneously required to prove a relevant market had been waived. 1/2
May 19
U.S. Soccer and Major League Soccer score a win against NASL at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, as the federal appeals court upholds last year's jury trial win in a $500 million antitrust case.
@Sportico has the details and analysis:
sportico.com/law/analysis/20….
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May 19
NASL can file for a rehearing en banc with the full 2nd Circuit or press on with an appeal to the Supreme Court. Both are long shots, but that hasn't stopped this litigation, which began in 2017, before. 2/2
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