Karim Zidan
@karimzidan.com
Karim Zidan is a journalist, author and custodian of the art estate belonging to his pioneering grandmother, Menhat Helmy.
Subscribe: https://www.sportspolitika.news/subscribe
And: https://www.menhathelmy.com/
Subscribe: https://www.sportspolitika.news/subscribe
And: https://www.menhathelmy.com/
Once a force for decolonization and African pride, the continent's crowning jewel of football—the AFCON—is increasingly beholden to local autocrats and European interests.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/afrcon-foo...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/afrcon-foo...
African Football and the Long Shadow of Empire
Once a force for decolonization and African pride, the continent's crowning jewel of football—the AFCON—is increasingly beholden to local autocrats and European interests.
www.sportspolitika.news
January 9, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Once a force for decolonization and African pride, the continent's crowning jewel of football—the AFCON—is increasingly beholden to local autocrats and European interests.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/afrcon-foo...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/afrcon-foo...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
Endnu et glimrende indlæg af @karimzidan.com. open.substack.com/pub/karimzid...
African Football and the Long Shadow of Empire
Once a force for decolonization and African pride, the continent's crowning jewel of football—the AFCON—is increasingly beholden to local autocrats and European interests.
open.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Endnu et glimrende indlæg af @karimzidan.com. open.substack.com/pub/karimzid...
This is what propagandists do, not news outlets.
🟡 NEW: The New York Times and Washington Post learned of a secret US raid on Venezuela soon before it was scheduled to begin Friday night — but held off publishing what they knew to avoid endangering US troops.
www.semafor.com/article/01/0...
www.semafor.com/article/01/0...
News organizations held off on reporting Venezuela raid
The American news organizations held their stories over concerns about endangering US troops.
www.semafor.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:21 PM
This is what propagandists do, not news outlets.
Reposted by Karim Zidan
I will never regret being part of the movement to free Alaa Abd el-Fattah, or writing the foreword to his extraordinary book, You Have Not Yet Been Defeated.
Read his honest and heartfelt response to those playing politics with his hard-won freedom.
#FreeAlaa Always.
freealaa.net/alaa-response
Read his honest and heartfelt response to those playing politics with his hard-won freedom.
#FreeAlaa Always.
freealaa.net/alaa-response
Statement in response to historic tweets
I am shaken that, just as I am being reunited with my family for the first time in 12 years, several historic tweets of mine have been republished and used to question and attack my integrity and valu...
freealaa.net
December 29, 2025 at 1:24 AM
I will never regret being part of the movement to free Alaa Abd el-Fattah, or writing the foreword to his extraordinary book, You Have Not Yet Been Defeated.
Read his honest and heartfelt response to those playing politics with his hard-won freedom.
#FreeAlaa Always.
freealaa.net/alaa-response
Read his honest and heartfelt response to those playing politics with his hard-won freedom.
#FreeAlaa Always.
freealaa.net/alaa-response
Reposted by Karim Zidan
European states need immigrants but don't want them. How to square that circle? Posture against immigrants while taking in more than ever before but treating them as a permanent second-class serving caste with few rights. Me @financialtimes.com on European kafala as.ft.com/r/7e2026f8-5...
Europe’s second-class citizens
[FREE TO READ] Countries that looked down on the Gulf’s ‘kafala’ system are edging closer to creating their own
as.ft.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
European states need immigrants but don't want them. How to square that circle? Posture against immigrants while taking in more than ever before but treating them as a permanent second-class serving caste with few rights. Me @financialtimes.com on European kafala as.ft.com/r/7e2026f8-5...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
hey if you're wondering "has a baseball website covered whatever the fuck Miller is talking about, for some reason and done it more accurately than he is?" the answer is absolutely, yes:
www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...
www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...
December 17, 2025 at 8:06 PM
hey if you're wondering "has a baseball website covered whatever the fuck Miller is talking about, for some reason and done it more accurately than he is?" the answer is absolutely, yes:
www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...
www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...
As I watched the FIFA Arab Cup unfold over the past couple of weeks in Qatar, I couldn’t help but think of Abdullah Ibhais, the whistleblower jailed for not spinning migrant abuses, and his recent revelations about Qatari surveillance of journalists
www.sportspolitika.news/p/qatar-foot...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/qatar-foot...
Qatar was watching us all along
Welcome to Sports Politika, a media venture founded by investigative journalist and researcher Karim Zidan that strives to help you understand how sports and politics shape the world around us.
www.sportspolitika.news
December 16, 2025 at 7:08 PM
As I watched the FIFA Arab Cup unfold over the past couple of weeks in Qatar, I couldn’t help but think of Abdullah Ibhais, the whistleblower jailed for not spinning migrant abuses, and his recent revelations about Qatari surveillance of journalists
www.sportspolitika.news/p/qatar-foot...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/qatar-foot...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
The 2026 FIFA World Cup & the violent ICE detention machine are on a wholly telegraphed collision course: “The intersection of immigration enforcement & major sporting events creates a perfect storm of risk & chaos," said @minkyworden.bsky.social of @hrw.org
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
FIFA Kisses Up to Trump With a “Peace Prize”
With the world’s soccer fans watching, Gianni Infantino, the great toady to the globe’s oligarchs, handed a made-up award to the increasingly violent US president.
www.thenation.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:21 PM
The 2026 FIFA World Cup & the violent ICE detention machine are on a wholly telegraphed collision course: “The intersection of immigration enforcement & major sporting events creates a perfect storm of risk & chaos," said @minkyworden.bsky.social of @hrw.org
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
Instead of relying on wealthy donors, congressional candidate @katmabu.bsky.social is using a Twitch stream to raise money – and fight a federal indictment
aftermath.site/kat-abughaza...
aftermath.site/kat-abughaza...
December 4, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Instead of relying on wealthy donors, congressional candidate @katmabu.bsky.social is using a Twitch stream to raise money – and fight a federal indictment
aftermath.site/kat-abughaza...
aftermath.site/kat-abughaza...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
My latest, co-written w/ @edgeofsports.bsky.social: "FIFA Kisses Up to Trump With Absurd 'Peace Prize'."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, toady to the globe’s oligarchs, handed the confected "FIFA Peace Prize" to the increasingly violent US president @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/soci...
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, toady to the globe’s oligarchs, handed the confected "FIFA Peace Prize" to the increasingly violent US president @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/soci...
FIFA Kisses Up to Trump With Absurd “Peace Prize”
With the world’s soccer fans watching, Gianni Infantino, the great toady to the globe’s oligarchs, handed a made-up peace prize to the increasingly violent US president.
www.thenation.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:37 PM
My latest, co-written w/ @edgeofsports.bsky.social: "FIFA Kisses Up to Trump With Absurd 'Peace Prize'."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, toady to the globe’s oligarchs, handed the confected "FIFA Peace Prize" to the increasingly violent US president @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/soci...
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, toady to the globe’s oligarchs, handed the confected "FIFA Peace Prize" to the increasingly violent US president @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/soci...
I wrote this bit of satire back in October. Seems especially fitting today after Infantino awarded Trump the farcical "FIFA Peace Prize"
www.sportspolitika.news/p/nfantino-p...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/nfantino-p...
Gianni Infantino, Peacemaker
Infantino’s diplomacy is not the diplomacy of treaties and compromises. It is the diplomacy of branding and spectacle. Where others see conflict, he sees opportunity.
www.sportspolitika.news
December 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM
I wrote this bit of satire back in October. Seems especially fitting today after Infantino awarded Trump the farcical "FIFA Peace Prize"
www.sportspolitika.news/p/nfantino-p...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/nfantino-p...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
Thursday Pod!
The 2026 World Cup Draw is Friday. Today, we talked to
@karimzidan.com about the politics surrounding tomorrow's event & the relationship between Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino.
From Kevin Hart to The Village People...
Today's
@section1904.com:
section1904.com/2025/12/prep...
The 2026 World Cup Draw is Friday. Today, we talked to
@karimzidan.com about the politics surrounding tomorrow's event & the relationship between Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino.
From Kevin Hart to The Village People...
Today's
@section1904.com:
section1904.com/2025/12/prep...
Preparing for a chaotic World Cup
Karim Zidan is back to talk about where sports meets politics
section1904.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Thursday Pod!
The 2026 World Cup Draw is Friday. Today, we talked to
@karimzidan.com about the politics surrounding tomorrow's event & the relationship between Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino.
From Kevin Hart to The Village People...
Today's
@section1904.com:
section1904.com/2025/12/prep...
The 2026 World Cup Draw is Friday. Today, we talked to
@karimzidan.com about the politics surrounding tomorrow's event & the relationship between Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino.
From Kevin Hart to The Village People...
Today's
@section1904.com:
section1904.com/2025/12/prep...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
There has probably never been an MMA fighter who believed in anything. Khabib did a great job of pretending to, though. He had me going there for a while.
As UFC champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov built a brand on humility, faith, and denouncing vices like gambling. His brand is now repeatedly deployed to legitimize volatile financial products and fans are noticing.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/khabib-nur...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/khabib-nur...
The Many Crypto Schemes of Khabib Nurmagomedov
As UFC champion, Khabib built a brand on humility, faith, and denouncing vices like gambling. His brand is now repeatedly deployed to legitimize volatile financial products and fans are noticing.
www.sportspolitika.news
December 4, 2025 at 5:23 PM
There has probably never been an MMA fighter who believed in anything. Khabib did a great job of pretending to, though. He had me going there for a while.
Reposted by Karim Zidan
This is an excellent deep dive into Khabib using his supposed moral authority to mitigate the real risks involved with this type of investing. Traditional investments function within tight regulation. By working outside traditional investments, Khabib can profit while maintaining his ignorance.
As UFC champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov built a brand on humility, faith, and denouncing vices like gambling. His brand is now repeatedly deployed to legitimize volatile financial products and fans are noticing.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/khabib-nur...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/khabib-nur...
The Many Crypto Schemes of Khabib Nurmagomedov
As UFC champion, Khabib built a brand on humility, faith, and denouncing vices like gambling. His brand is now repeatedly deployed to legitimize volatile financial products and fans are noticing.
www.sportspolitika.news
December 4, 2025 at 5:51 PM
This is an excellent deep dive into Khabib using his supposed moral authority to mitigate the real risks involved with this type of investing. Traditional investments function within tight regulation. By working outside traditional investments, Khabib can profit while maintaining his ignorance.
As UFC champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov built a brand on humility, faith, and denouncing vices like gambling. His brand is now repeatedly deployed to legitimize volatile financial products and fans are noticing.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/khabib-nur...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/khabib-nur...
The Many Crypto Schemes of Khabib Nurmagomedov
As UFC champion, Khabib built a brand on humility, faith, and denouncing vices like gambling. His brand is now repeatedly deployed to legitimize volatile financial products and fans are noticing.
www.sportspolitika.news
December 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM
As UFC champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov built a brand on humility, faith, and denouncing vices like gambling. His brand is now repeatedly deployed to legitimize volatile financial products and fans are noticing.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/khabib-nur...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/khabib-nur...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
The World Cup will be marketed as a celebration of football. But at its core, it is a political pact: Infantino’s empire depends on Trump’s blessing, and Trump’s nationalist project finds the perfect megaphone in Infantino’s FIFA.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/trump-fifa...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/trump-fifa...
When the World Cup Became America First
By aligning with FIFA and steering preparations, Donald Trump has turned football’s global spectacle into a tool for his MAGA vision.
www.sportspolitika.news
December 2, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The World Cup will be marketed as a celebration of football. But at its core, it is a political pact: Infantino’s empire depends on Trump’s blessing, and Trump’s nationalist project finds the perfect megaphone in Infantino’s FIFA.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/trump-fifa...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/trump-fifa...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
@hrw.org has documented the case of a man who was arrested at the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, which he had been attending with his young sons, and deported. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
US: ICE Arrest at FIFA Event Spotlights Dangers for World Cup
The arrest and return of an asylum seeker who took his children to the Club World Cup soccer tournament final on July 13, 2025, raises serious concerns about the safety of noncitizens attending the 20...
www.hrw.org
December 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
@hrw.org has documented the case of a man who was arrested at the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, which he had been attending with his young sons, and deported. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
Otro gran artículo de @karimzidan.com sobre el repugnante uso que hace Infantino del fútbol, de la mano del presidente (cada día más fascista) de Estados Unidos.
Un recordatorio de la vergonzosa celebración del Mundial de Clubes, y lo que podemos esperar del Mundial 2026.
Un recordatorio de la vergonzosa celebración del Mundial de Clubes, y lo que podemos esperar del Mundial 2026.
When the World Cup Became America First
By aligning with FIFA and steering preparations, Donald Trump has turned football’s global spectacle into a tool for his MAGA vision.
www.sportspolitika.news
December 2, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Otro gran artículo de @karimzidan.com sobre el repugnante uso que hace Infantino del fútbol, de la mano del presidente (cada día más fascista) de Estados Unidos.
Un recordatorio de la vergonzosa celebración del Mundial de Clubes, y lo que podemos esperar del Mundial 2026.
Un recordatorio de la vergonzosa celebración del Mundial de Clubes, y lo que podemos esperar del Mundial 2026.
The World Cup will be marketed as a celebration of football. But at its core, it is a political pact: Infantino’s empire depends on Trump’s blessing, and Trump’s nationalist project finds the perfect megaphone in Infantino’s FIFA.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/trump-fifa...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/trump-fifa...
When the World Cup Became America First
By aligning with FIFA and steering preparations, Donald Trump has turned football’s global spectacle into a tool for his MAGA vision.
www.sportspolitika.news
December 2, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The World Cup will be marketed as a celebration of football. But at its core, it is a political pact: Infantino’s empire depends on Trump’s blessing, and Trump’s nationalist project finds the perfect megaphone in Infantino’s FIFA.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/trump-fifa...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/trump-fifa...
From attending Kadyrov’s heir’s 18th birthday and testing rocket launchers to fake real estate deals, former UFC champ Jon Jones proved eager to play the sanctioned strongman’s stooge during his surprise visit to Chechnya
www.sportspolitika.news/p/jon-jones-...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/jon-jones-...
'Bones' in Chechnya
From attending Kadyrov’s heir’s 18th birthday and testing rocket launchers to fake real estate deals, former UFC champ Jon 'Bones' Jones proved eager to play the sanctioned strongman’s stooge.
www.sportspolitika.news
November 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
From attending Kadyrov’s heir’s 18th birthday and testing rocket launchers to fake real estate deals, former UFC champ Jon Jones proved eager to play the sanctioned strongman’s stooge during his surprise visit to Chechnya
www.sportspolitika.news/p/jon-jones-...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/jon-jones-...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
David Goldblatt is one of the most eloquent, articulate and principled voices in football. He spoke about the issue of FIFA's inaction over Israel at @playthegame-org.bsky.social last month, and his words feel particularly relevant today as FIFA seeks to evade accountability.
November 27, 2025 at 12:54 PM
David Goldblatt is one of the most eloquent, articulate and principled voices in football. He spoke about the issue of FIFA's inaction over Israel at @playthegame-org.bsky.social last month, and his words feel particularly relevant today as FIFA seeks to evade accountability.
Reposted by Karim Zidan
Ronaldo: now the most abject regime fluffer of all time
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Ronaldo dines with Donald for glamour portion of grotesque Saudi-funded spectacle | Barney Ronay
A pension-pot World Cup is looming for CR9 and with Donald Trump in the White House and Mohammed bin Salman at his back, it seems this is now a safe space
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Ronaldo: now the most abject regime fluffer of all time
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
Proud to feature @shireenahmed.bsky.social's latest on how World Ultimate Frisbee players are mounting an unprecedented protest against Israel’s participation, whose team boasts active IDF soldiers.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/ultimate-f...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/ultimate-f...
Ultimate Resistance
World Ultimate Frisbee players are mounting an unprecedented protest, warning that Israel’s participation—bolstered by IDF soldiers on the roster—could fracture the sport’s global community.
www.sportspolitika.news
November 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Proud to feature @shireenahmed.bsky.social's latest on how World Ultimate Frisbee players are mounting an unprecedented protest against Israel’s participation, whose team boasts active IDF soldiers.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/ultimate-f...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/ultimate-f...
Reposted by Karim Zidan
PTFO collaborated with @msjpauly.bsky.social and @motherjones.com on an investigation into Riley Gaines.
Riley’s messaging about trans athletes involves “predatory men” and “sexual assault.”
But there’s an important story multiple ex-teammates at Kentucky want you to know: youtu.be/iKUl8lkuGOc?...
Riley’s messaging about trans athletes involves “predatory men” and “sexual assault.”
But there’s an important story multiple ex-teammates at Kentucky want you to know: youtu.be/iKUl8lkuGOc?...
Riley Gaines Investigated: The Lia Thomas Race, the Coach & Why She "Doesn't Even Like" Trump | PTFO
YouTube video by PABLO TORRE FINDS OUT
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 1:33 PM
PTFO collaborated with @msjpauly.bsky.social and @motherjones.com on an investigation into Riley Gaines.
Riley’s messaging about trans athletes involves “predatory men” and “sexual assault.”
But there’s an important story multiple ex-teammates at Kentucky want you to know: youtu.be/iKUl8lkuGOc?...
Riley’s messaging about trans athletes involves “predatory men” and “sexual assault.”
But there’s an important story multiple ex-teammates at Kentucky want you to know: youtu.be/iKUl8lkuGOc?...
Proud to feature @shireenahmed.bsky.social's latest on how World Ultimate Frisbee players are mounting an unprecedented protest against Israel’s participation, whose team boasts active IDF soldiers.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/ultimate-f...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/ultimate-f...
Ultimate Resistance
World Ultimate Frisbee players are mounting an unprecedented protest, warning that Israel’s participation—bolstered by IDF soldiers on the roster—could fracture the sport’s global community.
www.sportspolitika.news
November 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Proud to feature @shireenahmed.bsky.social's latest on how World Ultimate Frisbee players are mounting an unprecedented protest against Israel’s participation, whose team boasts active IDF soldiers.
www.sportspolitika.news/p/ultimate-f...
www.sportspolitika.news/p/ultimate-f...