Saudi Arabia Versus Iran on the Football Pitch

by James M. Dorsey Saudi Arabia’s bitter rivalry with Iran has spilled onto Asian soccer pitches with the newly created South West Asian Football Federation (SWAFF) reflecting the kingdom’s bid for regional hegemony, including domination of soccer. Saudi Arabia’s most recent victory… Continue Reading

Al-Sisi steps up repression to cover policy failure

By James M. Dorsey Egyptian general-turned-president Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi would likely be the first to admit that an iron fist is no guarantee for retaining power. Not because of the fate of the country’s longest ruling autocrat, Hosni Mubarak, who… Continue Reading

Activists and Gulf Crisis Turn Qatar into Potential Model of Social Change

by James M. Dorsey Potential Qatari moves to become the first Gulf state to effectively abolish the region’s onerous kafala or labor sponsorship system, denounced as a form of modern slavery, could produce a rare World Cup that leaves a… Continue Reading

Qatar’s 2022 World Cup Moves into the Firing Line

By James M. Dorsey A French investigation into possible corruption in business deals related to Qatar’s winning of World Cup hosting rights moved the 2022 tournament a step closer to becoming enmeshed in the two- month-old Gulf crisis. Taken together with the… Continue Reading