Published in Nations and Balls·3 days agoBut could Putin do it on a cold night in Chisinau?Partizan’s black and white colours weren’t good enough camouflage for some would-be coup plotters. Football matches have been held behind closed doors for a variety of reasons. The spectacle of mute stadiums during the pandemic aside, teams are routinely forced to keep their fans out as punishment for their unruly…Ukraine3 min readUkraine3 min read
Published in Nations and Balls·Dec 17, 2022What if the World Cup had 48 teams already?New Zealand, Nigeria and North Macedonia would all be there, hoping they don’t get a day off at the end of the group stage. FIFA unveiled a new format for the 2026 World Cup, expanding the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, increasing the number of matches to 80 —…Fifa World Cup 2022 Qatar4 min readFifa World Cup 2022 Qatar4 min read
Published in Nations and Balls·Nov 29, 2022Three fingers in the air, Jules Rimet still reelingSerbia and Croatia managed to dominate FIFA World Cup headlines for reasons that had little to do with their on-pitch performances and all to do with the troubled 1990s. Two banners landed Balkan neighbours Croatia and Serbia in hot water last week, adding further controversy to a tournament that really…Croatia4 min readCroatia4 min read
Published in Nations and Balls·Jun 6, 2022‘What racist crimes?’: Greece’s new football chiefA disgraced official who lost his job over colluding with Nazis is now running Greece’s football federation. Greece’s national football team has been struggling on the pitch since Fernando Santos led the side to its first ever knockout round at a FIFA World Cup in 2014. Greece, which lost to…Greece3 min readGreece3 min read
Published in Nations and Balls·Mar 20, 2022Don’t give whataboutery a chanceWhile asking to “give peace a chance,” Red Star Belgrade ultras forgot a war close to home — and their bloody role in it. FK Crvena Zvezda, better known outside the Balkans as Red Star Belgrade, met Glasgow’s Rangers in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League. A…Ukraine3 min readUkraine3 min read
Published in Nations and Balls·Dec 20, 2021Free choice or driving drunk: Football’s unvaccinated headachePlayers, clubs and leagues are caught between a ‘right to choose’ and the pandemic. Europe’s governments are taking turns in announcing new measures to tackle yet another ‘wave’ of a pandemic that seems certain to drag on for months — if not years. …Covid 194 min readCovid 194 min read
Published in Nations and Balls·Dec 19, 2021Getting angry at the wrong flagA Ukrainian fan drew the ire of his hosts, even though they’d probably agree with his intentions. Back in 2004, athletes and supporters of New Zealand’s Olympic team were advised to leave their national flag at home and show up at venues with the iconic Silver Fern instead. The reason…Bosnia And Herzegovina3 min readBosnia And Herzegovina3 min read
Published in Nations and Balls·Jul 5, 2021When footballers have the wrong passportCuba’s national team lost the chance to qualify for the Gold Cup because they could not get their U.S. visas on time. Cuba had huge hopes for its national side this summer. Breaking with previous practice, the team is now open to Cuban players plying their trade abroad, including the…Football3 min readFootball3 min read
Published in Nations and Balls·Jun 14, 2021Macedonian debut marred by an Austrian’s racist tiradeTensions between Serbia and Albania surfaced in a game — and a tournament — which involved neither of them. Monday marked North Macedonia’s debut at a major international competition. …Football5 min readFootball5 min read
Published in Nations and Balls·Jun 11, 2021Nationalism, fashion and football: Ukraine’s new shirtUEFA found itself (again) in the middle of a political spat between Ukraine and Russia. Seven years ago, in the aftermath of the revolution that saw Ukraine’s then-President Yanukovych flee to Russia, Crimea became the focal point of a conflict that still prevents the two countries from meeting each other…Football4 min readFootball4 min read
