International Break - 10 19 24

Maybe it’s the international break, or the US election, but whatever it is it seems like all the headlines around sport are politically related, and while the CS tries to stay neutral on most topics, it’s time to point out some key headlines. If you have any questions or concerns, please email our HR department.

In Today’s CleanSheet:

• Observations 🔭 - “Politics” & “Streakers”

Observations 🔭 

Isreal

• UPSET - Isreal’s National soccer team is ranked 81 in the world. They just beat Belgium, ranked 6, 1-0. The match was played in Bozsik Arena in Budapest, Hungary because of the ongoing conflict with Isreal-Gaza. Just 675 fans were in attendance. Both teams finished out of the automatic qualifier for the Nations League.

• Here’s the winning goal at 86’ by Shua (Jewish) - with the assist coming from Sabi’a (Muslim).

• The win came just 3 days after Isreal drew at France 0-0, another major upset.

• In France, two Isreal fans were attacked in the stadium 10 minutes into the match, but police responded quickly. Over 4,000 police officers and 1,600 stadium staff were deployed for the match and President Macron attended as a show of confidence in the security, among other reasons.

• This is on the heels of violence as Israeli soccer fans were attacked in Amsterdam a little over a week ago at the Europa League match between Isreal side Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dutch side Ajax. Five people were treated at the hospital and dozens were arrested. This prompted the Israeli government to urge fans not to attend the match in Paris and issued a warning to Israeli’s traveling abroad to avoid identifying as such. Stay safe out there.

• President Biden and the Dutch government condemned the attacks as antisemitic.

Russia

• FIFA and UEFA have made the decision to continue their ban on the Russian National Team’s involvement in competitions. This means they will not be allowed to attend the 2026 World Cup as a result of the war with Ukraine. Ukraine is not banned from competition.

• This has happened before, just not very often.

  • In 1961 South Africa was suspended due to the country’s law banning mixed-race sports teams.

  • Yugoslavia was banned in 1994 for their aggression towards Bosnia-Herzegovina.

  • Chile was banned in 1994 after they “cheated” in 1990. With a World Cup spot on the line, Chile was down 0-1 to Brazil, in Brazil, when a flare appeared to hit the Chilean goalkeeper in the head. He was bleeding and the match was abandoned. However, after reviewing the incident, it was apparent he was not hit by the flare but had a razor blade concealed in his gloves and cut his own head.

  • There are other examples, but not a lot of consistency. For example, Nazi Germany participated in 1938. In 1978, Argentina both hosted and participated despite a military coup two years earlier.

It is not an enviable position FIFA and UEFA are in. They are making decisions to take athletes and teams off the pitch who are not making political decisions of the countries. Russia was also banned from the 2022 World Cup, but Russian athletes were allowed to compete in the Olympics. Where do you draw the line? Many countries have these issues and today’s wars often have two sides to the story - FIFA is picking sides.

Tottenham Hotspur - Bentancur

• Rodrigo Bentancur was banned by the England Football Association (FA) for 7 matches for being accused on using a racial slur about teammate Son Heung-min. In addition, he was fined $135k and has to take in person training.

• What did he say?

  • When in Uruguay last June, a reporter asked him about his teammate, “the Korean” (referring to Son). His response, “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”

  • Bentancur later said he does not believe that all Korean’s look “more or less the same” but that the context of the exchange shows he was being sarcastic and that he was challenging the journalist in his description of his club’s teammate.

  • Yet, the FA panel reviewing the case said despite the circumstances and the fact his actions were not on purpose it still violates their policy and that they gave him a ban near the lower end of the range of the policy. The policy allows for a 6-12 match ban for “a breach of FA rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview.”

• Make It Make Sense.

  • A key player for Spurs will now miss the next 7 EPL matches yet will be allowed to play in their European competitions since they are not governed by the FA.

  • After last Summer’s Copa America win for Argentina, Enzo Fernandez (current Chelsea mid-fielder) was recorded singing what is considered a “racist and discriminatory chant” during the team’s victory parade in Argentina. BUT since the incident was when Fernandez was on international duty the FA cannot/is not dishing out punishment. FIFA is conducting an investigation.

UK Is Cracking Down on Free Speech.

• While businesses (FA) can enforce policies they want, there is definitely a crackdown on free speech going on in the UK right now. Last year 3,300 people have been arrested for what they said on social media this year and based on reports that number is going way up.

• Morrissey, the English Musician, was recently quoted as saying “As you know, nobody will release my music anymore. As you know because I’m chief exponent of free speech. In England at least, it’s now criminalized. You cannot speak freely in England. If you don’t believe me, go there. Express and opinion, you’ll be sent to prison. It’s very, very difficult.”

• Elon Musk called the UK a “police state”.

• A couple months ago a 28-year-old man was sentenced to 20-months in prison for a Facebook post expressing opposition to mass immigration and raising concerns about Islamic grooming gangs. “They are over here given a life of Riley off the tax of us hard-working people earn when it could be put to better use... come here with no work visa, no trade to their name and sit and doss.” … "every man and his dog should smash fvck out of Britannia hotel.”

Men in Women’s Sports

By even making the title of this section what it is can be deemed controversial by some. The issue of men in women’s sport is not just an issue in the United States. Yes, it’s true, the issue was a big part of the recent election and there are many studies and “well known” people speaking out on the subject, but this issue is playing out across the western world.

• A significant majority, up to 85%, of American’s believe athletes should only be allowed to compete on sports teams that correspond with their birth sex.

• The San Jose State Women’s Volleyball team has been in the news a lot lately with teams boycotting their matches against SJSU for having a male player. Their assistant coach was fired for speaking out and now one of their co-captains included themselves in a lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference. The lawsuit was brought by female volleyball players in the Conference citing First Amendment and Title IX violations.

• It was reported over 900 biological females have been denied medals in sports because they were beaten out by men. 600 athletes did not medal in more than 400 competitions in 29 different sports totaling over 890 medals through March 30, 2024.

• FA Protest. Last weekend before the England-Ireland match at Wembley Stadium a protest was staged against the FA for their transgender inclusion policy.

  • The FA suspended a 17-year-old girl over remarks made to a bearded opponent in a match when she repeatedly asked the player “are you a man?”. There are reports that the 17-year-old is on the autism spectrum and had concerns for her safety and had asked the referee about the eligibility of the opponent.

  • A 6-match ban was given, but there was backlash. Last week in the House of Lords (England Parliament) the topic was discussed, with Lord Triesman going on record saying, “On one occasion, and at my instigation, there was discussion about whether people who were born men should play post-puberty against people who were born women."

    "In my day, the issue was straightforward. It was clear that it tended to produce an unfair competition and a very significant number of serious injuries. It led us to banning those kinds of competitions because of those reasons - no other reasons.

    "I say with regret: shame on the Lancashire County Football Association, backed up by the FA itself. She seems to me to have been treated in a shabby way, and I do not intend to let it rest.”

  • The FA responded by saying this is a “…complex matter…” and the suspension was reduced to 2 matches while further investigation is done.

  • FIFA was asked for comment, and it said it has an internal working group exploring the issue, calling it a “work in progress”, and adding that it wants the game to be “safe and inclusive”.

Worldwide Dance Craze

• Like him or hate him - just had to laugh at this video and point out for those not in the US or ignoring sports celebrations - there’s a new dance craze athletes are incorporating into their celebrations. If you haven’t seen it - WATCH A COMPILATION HERE featuring NFL, NCAA, Hulk Hogan, Sky News Australia U of Missouri Frat Signa Nu, Argentinian President Javier Milei, Jon Jones UFC Champ, Antenna Greek TV, AND FROM THE EFL - BARNSLY (currently in League One).

• And now there is discussion around the NFL if there should be a ban.

Finally…..

The 111^th Superbowl of Canadian Football, The Grey Cup, was played last weekend with the Toronto Argonauts beating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41-24 and most people outside of Canada wouldn’t have known it but for a streaker.

CS observation - security made a business decision, crowd cheered louder than a home Bournemouth crowd, and that was a POOR CHOICE IN FOOTWEAR!

Click the X screen here (🚨🚨🚨 Not for the Kids) - and thanks to @starscream2626 on X - aka Sotallly Tober for the footage.

Reminds CS of a couple some of the more recent streaking videos…..

• I’m betting if this were the streaker from the Grey Cup they would’ve let her keep going.

• 2024 Super Bowl - Watch if only for the Kevin Harlan call.