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Top-level
 3/ Kroos is a good example of a player whose nationality changed due to changes to geopolitical borders. In the past it was easier for players to switch countries, but after various abuses (Qatar ๐ถ๐ฆ and Togo ๐น๐ฌ were naturalizing Brazilians ๐ง๐ท to get them into their teams), the rules have become much more restrictive. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_eligibility_rules Things are especially complex for countries that have more than one football association. 10 comments
8/ Another Euro 2020 jersey that caused considerable controversy was the North Macedonia ๐ฒ๐ฐ kit. The kit showed the term โFootball Federation of Macedoniaโ which according to Greece ๐ฌ๐ท, was in contravention with the terms of the Prespa Agreement of 2018 which brought about normalised relations between the two countries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia_naming_dispute https://greekreporter.com/2021/06/12/greece-objects-to-north-macedonia-kit-in-uefa-euro-2020/ 9/ Sometimes the conflicts go the other way - from on the field to off. Famously, in 1969 long-simmering tensions between El Salvador ๐ธ๐ป and Honduras ๐ญ๐ณ boiled over at a World Cup qualifier, which lead to rioting, and then to the start of a full military conflict. It is estimated about 3,000 people died in what became known as the "Football War" 10/ More recently the infamous "Dinamo Zagreb vs. Red Star Belgrade" match in Zagreb in 1990 is often cited as the spark that lit the fire that lead to the breakup of Yugoslavia. 11/ To wrap up this thread, we recommend reading this article on the Geopolitics of the World Cup. Many of the themes raised are equally relevant today, and theyโre absolutely fascinating. https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/11/20/fifa-world-cup-2022-qatar-soccer-tournament-geopolitics/ @opencage Sadly neither Ireland nor Northern Ireland have qualified for this tournament - you could do a whole thread on the geopolitics of Irish football! https://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/rtes-documentary-football-republic-of-ireland-669855 |
Gregory's Server
4/ As the topic of eligibility shows, football and geopolitics are often linked.
Following the controversies surrounding the Qatar World Cup in 2022 (we all remember them), UEFA President Aleksander ฤeferin has called for an โapolitical Euros.โ
https://www.brusselstimes.com/sports/824022/uefa-calls-for-apolitical-euros-after-qatar-controversy
Let the footballers stick to football, and the politicians stick to politics - sounds good in theory, but geopolitics often rise to the surface.
Let's look at a few examples ...
#geoweirdness
4/ As the topic of eligibility shows, football and geopolitics are often linked.
Following the controversies surrounding the Qatar World Cup in 2022 (we all remember them), UEFA President Aleksander ฤeferin has called for an โapolitical Euros.โ
https://www.brusselstimes.com/sports/824022/uefa-calls-for-apolitical-euros-after-qatar-controversy