There’s always room at the grassroots for coaches, referees, administrators and activist supporters.
Ian Plenderleith
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
FIFA’s Saudi Arabia bid report — a long, long way from ‘good governance’
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the only nation bidding to host the 2034 men’s World Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Soccer’s way forward: hyper-local, not hyper-global
This is without doubt the soccer book of the year. Everyone involved with the game at any level should read it now.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Soccer’s greats as seen through their sticker selves
In an age of advanced technological sophistication, it’s often the simplest of objects that can furnish us with the profoundest joy.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
When English soccer was on the edge of extinction
The Times of London in 1985: “A slum sport played in slum stadiums, and increasingly watched by slum people.”
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Germany’s vibrant second division points the way to a two-tier MLS
It’s precarious, but it’s wild and exciting, as sports are supposed to be. The fans are loyal and loud in hard times.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
VAR’s next step: even more interventions, or plain abolition?
The German Bundesliga discovered yet another drawback to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) this past weekend.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Refereeing: ‘correct’ analyses of decisions are not always the best ones
Here we are discussing these incidents months afterwards, and still no one agrees what really was the best call.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
European Cups: explaining them doesn’t get any easier
This week, European competitions started in earnest after two months of qualifying rounds to weed out all those bothersome teams.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Beware ‘dynamic pricing’ — the next trend to shame the game
There’s an argument that this is capitalism in perfect working order.