Russell Holden
russinthezone.bsky.social
Russell Holden
@russinthezone.bsky.social
Author. Researcher, Lecturer, Mentor and Broadcaster on issues where Sport and Politics overlap. Cricket, Jazz and dog lover.
Reposted by Russell Holden
"FIFA President Infantino’s steadfast commitment to expanding football’s impact on the world’s climate has been recognised with a special new award, Fossil Free Football’s “Football Climate Impact Prize”.
www.fossilfreefootball.org/2025/12/04/f...
FIFA President Gianni Infantino Wins “Football Climate Impact Prize” | Fossil Free Football
FIFA President Infantino’s steadfast commitment to expanding football’s impact on the world’s climate has been recognised with a special new award, Fossil Free Football’s “Football Climate Impact Priz...
www.fossilfreefootball.org
December 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by Russell Holden
Full programme for our 2026 conference now available!

Hughes Hall, Cambridge, 26 Feb
9am to 5pm

Register here: www.cricketsociety.org.uk/events/crick...
December 5, 2025 at 12:27 PM
We are nearly there-a couple of hours until The Ashes commence. For what it's worth, I predict a 3/1 margin favouring Australia. However, this is likely to be a tight series between 2 vulnerable teams. #TheAshes
November 21, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Reposted by Russell Holden
Classic sportswashing. I love the Olympics and I hate the IOC. If you're not following @nolympicsla.bsky.social or @julesboykoff.bsky.social, time to correct that!
EXCLUSIVE: The organizing committee for the upcoming LA Olympics is hiring a bench of Trump allies to serve on its board..
The 2028 Olympics goes MAGA
It’s not the only sports body that has bent toward Trump as it prepares to put on a major event during Trump’s second term.
www.politico.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I +ope this session is on-line.
Coming soon:
Tuesday 25th November
Lovatt Lecture in Geography @worcesteruni.bsky.social :
Prof. Mark Riley,
University of Liverpool, on social media and it's role in the (re)presentation of geographies and identities
November 20, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Could not agree more.
Really good to see this shabby deal ending. Congratulations to the fans who campaigned against it. Let's hope the many other Western sports teams helping Rwanda sportswash its image while occupying eastern Congo will do the same.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Arsenal to end eight-year sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda in June 2026
Arsenal announce the club will end their eight-year sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This sounds good.
Coming soon:
Tuesday 25th November
Lovatt Lecture in Geography @worcesteruni.bsky.social :
Prof. Mark Riley,
University of Liverpool, on social media and it's role in the (re)presentation of geographies and identities
November 20, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Reposted by Russell Holden
As I’ve seen this confused a few times, please note that Robin Gibb was a much-beloved member of the Bee Gees, whilst Robbie Gibb is the BBC board member who also, totally coincidentally, was editorial adviser in the set-up of GB News.

I know, Bee Gees, GBeebies, a bit confusing…
November 11, 2025 at 7:33 AM
This was a really wide ranging, stimulating and entertaining session to chair. Many thanks to Tim and Jarrod.
Here’s the recording of our latest webinar panel - The Men’s Ashes and the Future of Test Cricket.

Tim Wigmore and @jarrodkimber.bsky.social covered a LOT of ground - and the event was expertly chaired by @russinthezone.bsky.social 👏

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtt6...
Panel: The Men’s Ashes and the Future of Test Cricket
YouTube video by Cricket Research Network
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Absurd.
With the sacking of Will Still by Southampton this evening, 52 of the 92 clubs in England's top four divisions (56.5%) have changed manager at least one in the past year.
November 3, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Very much looking forward to this event.
The Ashes is nearly here, but what’s next for Test cricket? 🏏

Join @jarrodkimber.bsky.social & Tim Wigmore as they talk the Ashes, historic rivalries & future pressures.
Chaired by @russinthezone.bsky.social

💻 Free Zoom panel | 4 Nov, 7pm GMT | 🔗DM for the link
November 3, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Reposted by Russell Holden
PANEL: Cricket, Gambling and Match-Fixing

29 October 2025
5pm-6pm (London time - GMT)

Chair: @stevemenary.bsky.social
Panelists: Dr Minhyeok Tak – Loughborough University, Anca-Maria Ghergel – Sheffield Hallam University, Will Gunn – Sporting Solutions

Open to all. DM us for the Teams link!
October 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Today's essential reading.
This is a measured, weary, cutting piece. I won't cherry-pick a screenshot, there's enough disdain in here for everyone involved. Read the whole thing.
Standing with Maccabi’s football hooligans against local police – is that what patriotism looks like now? | Jonathan Liew
October 22, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Could not agree more.
The tone of language about Andrew and the royals is sickening. They’ve had a ‘tough’ day? It’s ’distracting attention‘ from their activities? ‘Difficult headlines’? Seriously: they are not the victims here. Have some respect for those who are.
October 20, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Reposted by Russell Holden
Anything @heidimaurer.bsky.social is involved in will be dynamic, considered and inspiring & this is a particularly significant agenda. And it's just so good to see #Teaching&Learning centred again.
Call for Papers for @ecpr.bsky.social @ecprsgeu.bsky.social section “Teaching in EU Studies in the Digital Age”

to explore how AI, digitalisation & new pedagogies are reshaping #EU Studies

more info: ecpr.eu/Events/Event...
deadline: 10 December 2025
Teaching in EU studies in the digital age
European Consortium for Political Research
ecpr.eu
October 7, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Reposted by Russell Holden
"The pro-Trump billionaires behind Israel’s war-tech are in prime position to deploy the suite of militarised surveillance and border control technologies of a Trump-brokered peace"
@nafeez.bsky.social
on the 'circular economy of war'
@bylinetimes.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/16/p...
Pro-Trump Tech Billionaires Are Poised to Cash In on Gaza's 'Peace' Deal
Documents show Tony Blair’s Ellison-funded institute designed Gaza’s recovery plan on data-driven lines echoing Oracle-Palantir war systems.
bylinetimes.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Russell Holden
The World Cup has increasingly become a tool of authoritarian regimes, political corruption, and plain and simple grift. That it looks like the US is going to be the most extreme example of all this yet says volumes about the world in general.
Five of the nine African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup are on a *proposed* US travel ban list
October 15, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Reposted by Russell Holden
RIP Diane Keaton.
October 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Reposted by Russell Holden
So sad.

Jane Goodall.
Jilly Cooper
Diane Keaton

All in one week.

God, now balance the books:
Trump
Putin
Netanyahu
October 11, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Congratulations and what a relief. #Nobel #Peace #Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize 2025 has been awarded to Venezuelan democracy activist María Corina Machado.

The Nobel Committee recognised her “struggle to achieve a just & peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

In other words, exactly the opposite of what Trump is doing to the United States.
October 10, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Reposted by Russell Holden
More articles from #ptg2025 are now live❗

If you’ve missed parts of the conference or want to dive deeper into the key discussions, our talented journalists
@karimzidan.com, Steve Menary, and Lars Jørgensen have you covered👇

www.playthegame.org/news/
October 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
So young Zidane opts for Algeria.
October 2, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Reposted by Russell Holden
I heard her speak once in Cambridge and she opened her talk- as I'm sure she did many talks- with a chimpanzee call.

And I know that she's taught so many people so much but on that day, she taught me there was more than one way to be an academic.

www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist, dies aged 91
Jane Goodall Institute says ‘tireless advocate’ for natural world died in California during US speaking tour
www.theguardian.com
October 1, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Reposted by Russell Holden
This is a huge story.

Don't let him get away with it.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nigel Farage uses private company to pay less tax on GB News earnings
Exclusive: Reform leader’s use of personal services firm is a practice criticised across the political spectrum
www.theguardian.com
September 5, 2025 at 7:43 AM