Aubrey Bloomfield

Fifa banned Russia from international football. Now it must do the same for Israel As Israel inflicts untold misery on Palestinians, it is time for football’s governing bodies to stand by the principles they claim to uphold

My latest @theguardian.com: "Fifa banned Russia from international football. Now it must do the same for Israel." As Israel inflicts untold misery on Palestinians, it is time for soccer’s governing bodies to stand by the principles they claim to uphold www.theguardian.com/football/202...

New Zealand on 'wrong side of history' with Palestine position, opposition parties say The Opposition leader has blasted the government's decision not to recognise Palestinian statehood, calling it a failure of leadership.

Labour's criticism of the govt's decision is largely empty too. It could have recognised Palestine when in office and taken action to pressure Israel to end the occupation. It did neither. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

This is the heart of why our stance is so pathetic: “But claiming to be above recognition while also being behind on any real action only serves to make New Zealand look like a scab.”

NZ not yet recognising Palestinian state, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announces The government has decided against recognising Palestinian statehood, retaining its "when, not if" position.

NZ's stance on Palestine is so deeply frustrating. Won't even do the symbolic thing of recognition (some valid reasons) but also unwilling to take any real action to end the genocide and occupation. We remain complicit.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

UN experts call for suspension of Israel from international football amid unfolding genocide in occupied Palestine GENEVA – UN experts* today called on the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to suspend Israel as a country team from interna...

UN experts call for suspension of Israel from international football www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

The thing I don’t get about Helen Clark and Jacinda Ardern calling for recognition of Palestine is that they could have done it themselves when in power but chose not to. Not that recognition will end the genocide anyway.

‘Game Over Israel’ Campaign Demands Boycott of Israeli Soccer Clubs Over Government’s Killing of Palestinian Players The campaign, supported by Gary Lineker, Liam Cunningham, and Eric Cantona, comes after Israel killed some 800 athletes in Gaza in the last 23 months.

‘Game Over Israel’ Campaign Demands Boycott of Israeli Soccer Clubs Over Government’s Killing of Palestinian Players
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...

Charles James Kirk, 31, died on Wednesday from a gunshot to the neck at a Utah Valley University campus event just as he was trying to deflect a question about mass shootings by suggesting they were largely a function of gang violence. He died with a net worth of $12 million, which he made by espousing horrific and bigoted views in the name of advancing Christian nationalism. The foundation of his empire was the group he cofounded and led, Turning Point USA, which is a key youth-recruitment arm of the MAGA movement. Kirk was able to launch Turning Point at the age of 18 because he received money from Tea Party member Bill Montgomery, right-wing donor Foster Feiss, and his own father, also a prolific right-wing donor. He was an unrepentant racist, transphobe, homophobe, and misogynist who often wrapped his bigotry in Bible verses because there was no other way to pretend that it was morally correct. He had children, as do many vile people.

now there's an obit I can get behind

www.thenation.com/article/poli...

Kiwi cyclist's team targeted by protesters The protest cost them several seconds, with the team eventually finishing 19th, 54 seconds slower than UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who won the stage, which was a team time trial.

How do you write this article but include zero context about why they were protesting?

www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/5...

The case for New Zealand action against Israel The 1976 Olympic boycott over our silence on apartheid left a black mark on New Zealand’s reputation. Our inaction on Gaza could leave another.

New Zealand’s lack of action in response to Israel’s genocide is absolutely shameful and makes us complicit in the suffering of the Palestinian people.

thespinoff.co.nz/politics/28-...

To celebrate the new era of Stadio, we made a video showcasing what we love about football, featuring the Stadio community and some of our favourite people. We hope you enjoy it; if you do, please share.

5 journalists are dead and the NYT decides to write a smear piece depicting Al Jazeera as a Hamas mouthpiece.

AJ is far from perfect & deserves as much scrutiny & criticism as many others. But the timing & one-sidedness of the article is an effort to legitimise the killing of AJ’s staff.

Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick barred from Parliament for rest of week after Gaza speech The Green Party co-leader described the ruling as "ridiculous" and said she was tired and angry at the massacre of human beings.

Good to know our parliament cares more about standing up for some bullshit notion of civility than taking action to stop a genocide.

www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

This is a dark stain on football, and will always be remembered as such.
That UEFA nor FIFA did or said anything about the hundreds killed and complete anhialation of football in that region is deplorable.

Yes it’s Winston Peters, always so desperately grasping together the worst fistful of ideologies to punch folk in the face with.

But it’s more importantly another example of the utterly spineless, mean spirited, visionless mush that is Christopher Luxon. How pathetic to have power and choose pain.

The guidance for trans participation that they have removed from the Sport New Zealand website is just three years old and was the result of a lengthy cross-code consultation.

This move makes sport more unfair and more unsafe.

Every person involved in this is a hateful mess. Wish them the worst.

Meditations from Marseille: FIFA's silence, Gaza's suffering My time in Marseille made me reflect on the role sports continue to play in the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, whether through silence, inaction, or a sheer refusal to shun Israel's genocidal war machine.

My time in Marseille—a city known for its sports, culture & MENA community—made me reflect on the role sports continue to play in the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, whether through silence, inaction, or a sheer refusal to shun Israel's genocidal war machine

www.sportspolitika.news/p/meditation...

Dear FIFA: Expel Israel, or stop calling it the ’beautiful game’ Football isn’t innocent while FIFA ignores Israel’s genocide in Gaza and allows it to play, says Leyla Hamed. To save the beautiful game, expel Israel now.

FIFA says football is for all.
But Palestinians footballers are killed and its stadiums destroyed.
So, which part of this is the beautiful game?
My first piece for @thenewarab.bsky.social: www.newarab.com/opinion/dear...

“DROP!”

Promotion of ‘Genocide hotline’ must end, says top Human Rights Commissioner The commissioner said the leaflet, which called on people to help “track down” Israeli soldiers on holiday in NZ, was “potentially harmful”.

Stuff's Nick Truebridge has now managed to publish two articles on the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa's Genocide Hotline without actually providing any context as to why Israel soliders shouldn't be welcome in New Zealand

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3605...

www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/3605...

What is even the point of the New York Times these days?

Imagine their response if Musk has expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people

Boycott Israel. Sanction Israel. Divest from Israel. Refuse to perform in Israel. Arrest Israeli soldiers and war criminals. Genocide is not in the past. Genocide is not forgotten. Genocide is an active event. The land remains occupied, bulldozed, and collectively punished.

It’s 2025 in Gaza and Israel is committing genocide

The unbearable silence in women’s football While women footballers have been trailblazers in advocating for gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and refugee support, many remain conspicuously silent on Gaza and Lebanon, writes Shireen Ahmed.

While women footballers have been trailblazers in advocating for gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and refugee support, many remain conspicuously silent on Gaza and Lebanon, writes @shireenahmed.bsky.social

www.sportspolitika.news/p/women-foot...

Sport may be a blunt tool of social change, but it’s time to take a stand against Israel | Jonathan Liew As the bombardment continues in Gaza, bodies such as Fifa and the IOC have evaded taking a stand. But fans’ solidarity with Palestinians is growing and should not be ignored

this week's column www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/n...