How football was hijacked by authoritarian regimes | Joey D'Urso interview

Journalist and author Joey D’Urso joins Oli to unpack the big questions facing modern football, and discuss his new book More Than a Shirt: How Football Shirts Explain Global Politics, Money and Power. From the Lionesses’ recent victory and the growing popularity of women’s football, to the dark side of the game: sportswashing, soft power, and the influence of autocratic regimes like Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

We explore how Middle Eastern states use football to buy legitimacy on the world stage, using clubs, tournaments, and sponsorships to soften their image and secure cultural relevance in a post-oil future. Joey and Oli debate whether fans can reconcile their love for clubs like Manchester City, Newcastle United, or PSG, with the troubling politics behind their ownership.

Is it morally acceptable to cheer for a team bankrolled by an autocracy? Can sport ever truly be separated from politics? And what does the future hold for football as it becomes a tool for global influence?

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