Eleven Named People (2024)

30/11/2023

Today, you'll be bombarded with soft pedal media references to Henry Kissinger’s love for soccer; that, among others, he convinced Pele to play for New York Cosmos in the US and kickstart the NASL (the forerunner to the MLS) after Pelé retired from the Brazil national team in 1970; that he was made an honorary member of Bayern Munchen in 1989; helped bring the World Cup to the US in 1994; and still supported his boyhood club, Greuther Fürth. The thing is it still doesn't wash away his reputation as a war criminal. In fact, he was an overzealous guest of Argentina's murderous junta during the 1978 World Cup.

15/11/2023

The American poet and teacher June Jordan once remarked: "There are two issues of our time, really, that amount to a litmus test for morality ... One is what you're prepared to do on behalf of the Palestinian people. And the other is what are you prepared to do on behalf of gay and le***an people."

The Litmus Test The sixth (after a long haitus) in my series of short summaries about the culture and politics of football.

13/04/2023

The first in anew weekly round-up post of football politics and culture. Posting on Tuesdays. Here's Number One.

Fighting Football The first in my new weekly round-up post of football politics and culture. On Tuesdays. Here's Number One.

12/12/2022

This year’s FIFA Men’s World Cup is now in its business end. So far, it’s exceeded expectations in terms of spectacle. From Vincent Aboubakar’s incredible solo goal for Cameroon against Brazil (after which he celebrated by removing his shirt, earning himself an instant red card), to Japan’s heroics, and of course, to Morocco’s incredible advance to the semi-finals (after dispatching footballing titans in Spain and Portugal). It has also delivered the politics too – although the debate over Qatar’s hosting of the tournament has ebbed, a new one has been ignited over whether anyone can justifiably support Morocco – who are now the most successful African and Arab team in the tournament’s history – while its government occupies Western Sahara. The Palestinian flags displayed by Morrocan fans and players are ubiquitous, but where are the ones for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic? On this episode, Will Shoki, Sean Jacobs, Tony Karon and Boima Tucker debate and discuss.

25/11/2022

The 22nd FIFA Men’s World Cup, held in Qatar, is getting political. This week on the AIAC podcast, we discuss the sport and the politics with Tony Karon and Sean Jacobs.

Need we say more? Thirty-two teams have converged in the tiny Middle-Eastern nation of Qatar to fight for their national pride, and so far, it is shaping up to be the spectacle that keeps football lovers faithful. But there is no sport without politics, and Qatar’s hosting of the tournament has unleashed a sea of criticism over its dodgy labor practices and poor human rights track record. Should we side with FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, in his accusation that the West is being hypocritical? Or are reactionary elites simply weaponizing woke-ish arguments to deflect warranted scrutiny? And besides the political football, what of the football? Who will win? Who should win? Special guests Sean Jacobs and Tony Karon who host the football podcast Eleven Named People, join Will to discuss the beautiful game.

More on Eleven Named People here: https://bit.ly/3U74Dr8

07/10/2022

Michael Hanna (Twitter: ), U.S. Program Director for International , talks about his Egyptian immigrant beginnings in 1970s Liverpool, his love for the Reds, the extraordinary career and burden of Mohamed Salah, Egyptian football, and whether the crisis at Liverpool FC is temporary or something more deep-seated.

12/09/2022

Peter Dwyer, an educator and researcher originally from Liverpool in the UK, joins us. Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on 8 September 2022, was hardly a football fan. Yet the Premier League and Football League suspended all games the weekend after her death. Do football fans love her that much? Peter also speaks on a perceived crisis at Liverpool Football Club. Hosted by Tony Karon and Sean Jacobs. Recorded on September 12, 2022.

02/09/2022

Ronnie Kasrils, the South African revolutionary, is our guest. From Johannesburg, where he lives, Ronnie, now 83 years young, talks about his lifelong devotion to Arsenal F.C. and English football which dates to his time in political exile; Highbury’s role in the South African struggle; his football rivalry with Joe Slovo; his favorite players (Thierry Henry, Charlie George, Socrates and Eric Cantona); and the future of South African sport, including that of the family godson, Sacha Nngomezulu-Feinberg, flyhalf and captain of Under-20 Springbok rugby team.

Hosts Tony Karon and Sean Jacobs

Eleven Named People I Episode 7 I An Old Boys Society

21/08/2022

The is 30 years old this year. Three theses: on (1) football media (especially the old boys' society of former and Liverpool players), (2) globalization, and (3) money (is there an ideal club owner?). Guest: Adam Aboobakar (), an economist based at . Adam researches growth, inequality, and the political economy of development. He is an incoming fellow at . He holds a Ph.D. from .

Eleven Named People I Episode 7 I An Old Boys Society is 30 years old this year. Three theses on football media (especially the old boys society of former and Liverpool players)...

14/08/2022

Episode 6 of Eleven Named People is here. Tony Karon and Sean Jacobs with Will Youmans.

This episode covers the Amazon Prime series, “All or Nothing Arsenal” as well as why Israel - where its military has killed more than 50 Palestinians in the latest assault on Gaza and the West Bank - has not been banned from international sports, yet.

This is also a time for firsts: our first a guest.

Will Youmans, Arsenal fan and academic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfCKLaJckE8

29/07/2022

Episode 4 of Eleven Named People, the show about football inspired by something the Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawm once wrote: "The imagined community of millions seems more real as a team of 11 named people."

This episode covers the 19th anniversary of Marc Vivien Foe's death during a Confederations Cup match in 2003, Turkish fans who rile up opponents by shouting Vladimir Putin's name, the Palestinian footballer who announced his retirement from Israel's national team, Morocco's rapprochement with Isreal (including a possible football friendly match), BDS finally taking the sports boycott seriously, and the fuss in European football about the preseason which ends on July 29th.

Hosts: Sean Jacobs and Tony Karon.

Eleven Named People, Episode No.4 Episode 4 of Eleven Named People, the show about football inspired by something the Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawm once wrote: "The imagined community of mi...

29/07/2022

Episode 4 of Eleven Named People, the show about football inspired by something the Marxist historian Eric Hobsbawm once wrote: "The imagined community of millions seems more real as a team of 11 named people"

25/07/2022

Eleven Named People updated their website address.

25/07/2022

"It's toxic, my guy."

Episode 3 of the sports stream, , presented and produced by Sean Jacobs and Tony Karon.

The episode focuses on football, tennis and rugby, featuring the stories of professional footballers Marcus Rashford (of Manchester United and England football team, Tiémoué Bakayoko (of AC Milan and Équipe de France de Football), Nelson Mandela (a sports fan and figure) and and the greatest tennis coach ever, Richard Williams.

Eleven Named People Ep. 3 Episode 3 of the sports stream inspired by something historian Eric Hobsbawm wrote: "The imagined community of millions seems more real as a team of eleven n...

18/07/2022

Eleven Named People updated their business hours.

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