Martyn Ziegler

@martynziegler.bsky.social

sports journalist for The Times

Breaking - Barcelona-Villarreal in Miami is off for now. Official statement: “Relevent has informed LALIGA of the need to postpone the planned match ... Given the current uncertainty in Spain, there is insufficient time to properly execute an event of this scale."

Norwegian fans unfurl banners in support of Palestine as teams prepare to enter pitch for World Cup qualifier in Oslo. About 1,500 people joined pro-Palestinian march from city centre to the stadium earlier in the day.

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A look back with the @martynziegler.bsky.social and @robharrisreports.bsky.social on an incredible episode 10 years ago. A sensational event we thought of as the lowest point for FIFA. A decade on? In some ways, yes. In others way, maybe not. Have a listen

@SportUnlocked Podcast@sportunlocked.bsky.social · last yr.

🚨 POD: FIFA raids 10 years @robharrisreports.bsky.social @martynziegler.bsky.social @tariqpanja.bsky.social 🇨🇭How we saw arrests 🇺🇸 What happened in US prosecutions 🎧Archive audio of Sepp Blatter, Jeffrey Webb and Greg Dyke 🌍Blatter’s exit & Gianni Infantino’s rise Podfollow.com/SportUnlocked

FIFA Council meeting has just wrapped up. Had to be held virtually earlier than planned because Gianni Infantino will miss the first few days of his/FIFA’s own Congress week so he can travel to the Gulf as part of Donald Trump’s visits to Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Kirsty Coventry's election as the first female president of the IOC may seem like a positive step for the organisation, but she is very much the establishment's choice, with Thomas Bach lobbying hard for her (against the rules, it should be said). Do not expect reform or change.

Somewhat buried in an FT piece about DAZN’s wish to become the N̶e̶t̶f̶l̶i̶x̶ Spotify of Sports, is another monumental loss, this time growing to $1.4bn (!!) for the year to 2023, was $1.2 bn in 2022, $2.3bn in 2021 and $1.3bn in 2020. Eye watering numbers but now in business with KSA so …

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