Calcio e Autonomia!
June 20, 2014
On a day when the Azzuri play, we give a shoutout to the left-wing ultras of Associazione Sportiva Livorno Calcio, whose fan culture reflects the great tradition of Italian Communist autonomism. Striker Cristiano Lucarelli, who hails from Livorno and played on the Italian national team, famously walked away from a career at top-flight club Torino,…
The People’s Game Podcast #8 – 6/19/14
June 19, 2014Luis Suarez does his best Diego Maradona impression with two goals that drive a stake through England’s heart. Colombia continues to shine against Ivory Coast, which is more than we could say about Greece or Japan. Meleiza has an in-depth discussion with Teo Ballvé in Bogota about Colombian soccer and politics, and Alan talks with…
Soccer in Sun and Shadow
June 19, 2014The People’s Game Podcast #7 – 6/18/14
June 18, 2014On today’s podcast, Alan Minsky and Meleiza Figueroa analyze Spain’s spectacular meltdown at the Maracanã in its game against Chile, making the defending champions the first team to be eliminated from the 2014 World Cup! In the first half, we discuss various aspects of the game on the field, in light of the apparent death…
FC Barcelona – Mes Que Un Club
June 18, 2014As 2010 World Cup champions Spain face an unthinkable elimination in today’s game against Chile, we remember the powerful history of Spain’s greatest football club, whose players form the core of the Spanish national squad. FC Barcelona’s slogan is “mes que un club” (“more than a club”) – and throughout its history, it has indeed…
The People’s Game Broadcast Episode #2 (6/18/14)
June 18, 2014This week’s broadcast episode features highlights from the week’s podcasts, as well as commentary on today’s games. First, Alan Minsky speaks with Laurent Dubois, professor at Duke University and author of “Soccer Empires,” who shares his thoughts on why the Left should care about global football. Next, Meleiza Figueroa talks to Francisco, an activist in…
The People’s Game Podcast #6 – 6/17/14
June 18, 2014On today’s podcast, Alan Minsky and Meleiza Figueroa recap the day’s games, especially the stunning 0-0 clásico between Mexico and Brazil, and preview tomorrow’s lineup as teams begin to face elimination. Alan also speaks to OC Weekly’s Gustavo Arellano about San Memo, aka Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, and Mexico’s performance and prospects. Fernando Romero reports…
Football and the Struggle for Algerian Independence
June 17, 2014In 1958, Rachid Mekhloufi, star striker for French club team St. Etienne, and nine other Algerian players walked away from promising careers in France to form a national team for a country that, at the time, existed only in the revolutionary dreams of the anti-colonial movement in Algeria. The Algerian national team formed by the…
The People’s Game Podcast #5 – 6/16/14
June 17, 2014The USA defeats their nemesis Ghana, but look less than convincing in the process. Pablo Miralles breaks down the game and reports on watching games at public screenings in the middle of the Shanghai night. Then we have an extensive conversation with Laurent Dubois, who blogs at soccer politics / the politics of football; and…
Hooligans of the world, Unite! FC St. Pauli
June 16, 2014Football hooligans, or ‘ultras,’ are notorious for their fanaticism, violence, and reactionary home-team politics. But on the other hand, football fandom can also express radical virtues of solidarity, community, and resistance. As Germany plays today, we pay tribute to the revolutionary anti-fascist fan base of Hamburg’s football club FC St. Pauli – embraced by anarchists,…