Colin Millar
colinmillar.bsky.social
Colin Millar
@colinmillar.bsky.social
Football news reporter and journalist for The Athletic. Author of The Frying Pan of Spain.
Reposted by Colin Millar
❗ICE agents will form a “key part” of the security at the 2026 men’s World Cup. “ICE, specifically homeland security investigations, is a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup,” said Todd Lyons, ICE’s acting director. By @colinmillar.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
ICE says it will play ‘key part’ in 2026 World Cup security
Todd Lyons, ICE’s acting director, was responding to a question from Democrat Nellie Pou before a panel in the House of Representatives.
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Colin Millar
After Celta Vigo's Borja Iglesias was subjected to homophobic abuse, including that he painted his nails — his club fought back.

Borja's team-mates and 5,000 fans painted their nails for their next match💅

(Article free to read on @theathleticfc.bsky.social)

www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...
Borja Iglesias suffered homophobic abuse for painting his nails. The reaction was overwhelming (Gift Article)
Celta Vigo players and thousands of their fans painted their own nails to show solidarity with striker Borja Iglesias after homophobic abuse
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:05 AM
After Celta Vigo's Borja Iglesias was subjected to homophobic abuse, including that he painted his nails — his club fought back.

Borja's team-mates and 5,000 fans painted their nails for their next match💅

(Article free to read on @theathleticfc.bsky.social)

www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...
Borja Iglesias suffered homophobic abuse for painting his nails. The reaction was overwhelming (Gift Article)
Celta Vigo players and thousands of their fans painted their own nails to show solidarity with striker Borja Iglesias after homophobic abuse
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Argentina's FA has moved to prevent players receiving international call-ups if they move abroad before first signing a pro contract at an Argentine club. Rule would have stopped Messi playing for Argentina after Barcelona move.

(Link is free for non subscribers)

www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
Explaining Argentina’s new youth rule that would have barred Lionel Messi from the national team (Gift Article)
The move by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) is designed to protect domestic clubs from losing young players to teams abroad.
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:22 PM
China's authorities have banned 73 people from football for life and sanctioned 13 clubs following an investigation into corruption.

It means 9 clubs begin the Chinese Super League season on minus points, including last year's top two. @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
China bans 73 people and sanctions 13 clubs in soccer corruption investigation
In total, a cumulative total of 72 league points have been docked from 13 clubs across the two divisions of Chinese football.
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Reposted by Colin Millar
Qarabag are this season's Champions League's surprise story.

Liverpool's opponents are from the war-torn Nagorno-Karabkh region. Their Aghdam home has been a ghost-town since 1993. Their story is bound with conflict. For @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
Qarabag, the Champions League disruptors forced to leave their home
The Azerbaijani side travel to Liverpool with every chance of reaching the play-offs. Their history is bound up with conflict
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Qarabag are this season's Champions League's surprise story.

Liverpool's opponents are from the war-torn Nagorno-Karabkh region. Their Aghdam home has been a ghost-town since 1993. Their story is bound with conflict. For @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
Qarabag, the Champions League disruptors forced to leave their home
The Azerbaijani side travel to Liverpool with every chance of reaching the play-offs. Their history is bound up with conflict
www.nytimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Reposted by Colin Millar
Football's newest league features eight clubs from seven nations, the first properly cross-border 'domestic' competition in the sport.

Could it set a blueprint for how the game might look in years to come?

📝 @colinmillar.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
January 24, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Reposted by Colin Millar
🚨MONDAY POD!🚨

@acjimbo.bsky.social, @danielstorey85.bsky.social, @colinmillar.bsky.social & Luis Miguel Echegaray on the 🎙️:

🔴Boring Carrick = exciting United
🇸🇳Crazy AFCON scenes with @mahermezahi.bsky.social
🦅Glasner lets loose with @mattwoosie.bsky.social
🫤Spurs' waste of time

pod.fo/e/37b842
The Totally Football Show with James Richardson: Man United dominate City in the derby, plus the incredible AFCON finale
It’s Jimbo, Daniel Storey, Colin Millar and Luis Miguel Echegaray in position after another dramatic weekend of Premier League action.It’s 4 games without a win for Man City as Michael Carrick�...
pod.fo
January 19, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Reposted by Colin Millar
Bangladesh claim it is not safe for them to play in India during next month’s T20 cricket World Cup.

Pakistan will already play its games in Sri Lanka instead.

@colinmillar.bsky.socialexplains how the geopolitical tensions on the Indian subcontinent are threatening to overshadow the tournament.
Cricket’s T20 World Cup is highlighting tensions on the Indian subcontinent
India is co-hosting the 20-team tournament, starting on February 7, but Bangladesh has said it will join Pakistan in not playing there
theathletic.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Russia may return to international football after a four-year blanket ban from competitions. FIFA's new under-15 tournament will be "open to all" 211 of its member associations, of which the Russian Football Union remains a member. Story @theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
Russia may return to international football after four-year absence in new FIFA youth tournament
Russia's national teams and domestic clubs have been suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions since the nation's invasion of Ukraine.
www.nytimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by Colin Millar
🚨MONDAY POD!🚨

Join @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @danielstorey85.bsky.social, @colinmillar.bsky.social & Reuben Pinder after a very newsworthy weekend:

🥊Salah v Slot?
🏆Villa in the title race?
📖The weight of history for Arsenal
🦅Palace go 4th!

pod.fo/e/361c18
The Totally Football Show with James Richardson: Salah lets loose on Liverpool as Villa blow title race wide open
Matt Davies-Adams is in the hot seat to pick apart the Premier League weekend with Daniel Storey, Reuben Pinder and Colin Millar.Leeds fight back against Liverpool in a scintillating 3-3 draw at El...
pod.fo
December 8, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Reposted by Colin Millar
Some tickets left for our first live show at the Southbank Centre tonight in London!
Doors are at 19:15, show starts at 19:45!

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/sta...
Book | Southbank Centre
www.southbankcentre.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 9:15 AM
DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba scored a last-minute winner for his nation to beat Cameroon and has now just scored the winning penalty for DR Congo to eliminate Nigeria. Not a bad three days for the centre-back.
November 16, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Reposted by Colin Millar
At least seven of the 10 most populous nations have not qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

In a tournament featuring minnows like Cape Verde (population 525,000), why are so many global powers missing out on football's biggest tournament?

📝 @colinmillar.bsky.social
World Cup 2026: Why have so many of the biggest countries not qualified?
At least seven of the world's 10 most populous nations have not qualified for the tournament
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Colin Millar
🚨FRIDAY POD!🚨

@acjimbo.bsky.social, @oilysailor.bsky.social, @danielstorey85.bsky.social & @colinmillar.bsky.social on international duty:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿What's Tuchel learning?
🇵🇹Ronaldo sees red!
🇳🇬@jaydmharris.bsky.social & the Super Eagles
🇨🇼Could Curaçao qualify?
🇹🇷The Turkish betting scandal

pod.fo/e/352da5
The Totally Football Show with James Richardson: Ronaldo sees red, England see off Serbia + Nigeria strike
Jetting off on this international break with Jimbo are Duncan Alexander, Daniel Storey and Colin Millar.World Cup qualifying is reaching its conclusion with France officially there, Norway all but ...
pod.fo
November 14, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Reposted by Colin Millar
Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged to give up her premium seat for the opening match of the 2026 World Cup to a young woman who could not afford to attend.

More from @colinmillar.bsky.social
Mexico president pledges to give her first 2026 World Cup ticket to a young woman
Claudia Sheinbaum will forego her premium seat for the opening match and give it to a young woman who could otherwise not afford to attend.
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Reposted by Colin Millar
Football players from Galatasaray and Besiktas are among 1,024 players suspended by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) as part of an investigation into betting.

More from @colinmillar.bsky.social
Galatasaray, Besiktas players among 1,024 footballers suspended by Turkish FA in betting probe
It comes after the TFF suspended 149 match officials last month following their alleged involvement in a betting scandal.
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Colin Millar
The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) has accepted three top clubs from Sudan, where there is an ongoing civil war, into its domestic league for the 2025-26 season.

More from @colinmillar.bsky.social ⤵️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...
Rwanda accepts top Sudan clubs into domestic soccer league due to ongoing civil war
Al Hilal and Al Merrikh played the 2024-25 season in Mauritania, north west Africa, due to the unstable political situation in Sudan.
www.nytimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Don't ignore what is happening in Sudan, where Civil War continues.

Despite everything, football continues. The top clubs from Sudan - who remarkably qualified for this year's AFCON - will play this season in Rwanda, 2,500km south. @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...
October 25, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Reposted by Colin Millar
"A club from here, for here."

Meet Supra du Quebec: football's newest club and the first Canadian Premier League team from the French-speaking region. "This club will exist to serve the players of this province," says its president. Story @theathleticfc.bsky.social:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...
Canada’s newest soccer club — and its distinct recruitment policy
The province that is home to 23 percent of the national population hasn't had a Canadian Premier League team in its first seven seasons.
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:55 AM
"A club from here, for here."

Meet Supra du Quebec: football's newest club and the first Canadian Premier League team from the French-speaking region. "This club will exist to serve the players of this province," says its president. Story @theathleticfc.bsky.social:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...
Canada’s newest soccer club — and its distinct recruitment policy
The province that is home to 23 percent of the national population hasn't had a Canadian Premier League team in its first seven seasons.
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Reposted by Colin Millar
🚨MONDAY POD!🚨

It's @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @danielstorey85.bsky.social, @tomwfootball.bsky.social & @colinmillar.bsky.social after a jaw-dropping weekend 😲

👿 Maguire makes it 4 defeats in a row for Liverpool
🌳 The end of Ange at Forest
🧮 How many will Haaland get?

pod.fo/e/340198
The Totally Football Show with James Richardson: Man United make it 4 defeats in a row for Liverpool as Ange exits Forest
Matt Davies-Adams is in the hot seat with Daniel Storey, Tom Williams and Colin Millar for company after another jaw-dropping Premier League weekend.It's 4 defeats in a row for Liverpool and back-t...
pod.fo
October 20, 2025 at 6:40 AM
San Marino are the lowest ranked of all 210 men's teams in international football.

They have lost all seven World Cup qualification matches so far. This explains why they can still qualify if they (heavily) lose one more. @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
Why San Marino must lose (heavily) to maintain slim hopes of World Cup qualification
The microstate has lost all seven World Cup qualification games to date — and must lose the eighth if it hopes to qualify
www.nytimes.com
October 13, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Cape Verde Islands, population 525k, qualify for their first World Cup on Monday if they beat Eswatini.

Tickets in the 8k-seater Estádio da Várzea are gold dust. There is no online sale but 5 different sale points for tickets: the stadium, 3 petrol stations, and a bakery.
October 10, 2025 at 7:58 PM