Tariq Panja
@tariqpanja.bsky.social
⚽️💰🚓 Co-author Football's Secret Trade| NYT Global Sports Correspondent| ✉️[email protected] |[email protected]|
Timeline.
🔴13 Nov - Ronaldo gets red card in Portugal’s game v ireland. (Should miss opening 2 games of World Cup.)
🟠18 Nov - Ronaldo meets Donald Trump at White House.
🟢25 Nov - FIFA clears Ronaldo to play in World Cup from start.
🔴13 Nov - Ronaldo gets red card in Portugal’s game v ireland. (Should miss opening 2 games of World Cup.)
🟠18 Nov - Ronaldo meets Donald Trump at White House.
🟢25 Nov - FIFA clears Ronaldo to play in World Cup from start.
November 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Timeline.
🔴13 Nov - Ronaldo gets red card in Portugal’s game v ireland. (Should miss opening 2 games of World Cup.)
🟠18 Nov - Ronaldo meets Donald Trump at White House.
🟢25 Nov - FIFA clears Ronaldo to play in World Cup from start.
🔴13 Nov - Ronaldo gets red card in Portugal’s game v ireland. (Should miss opening 2 games of World Cup.)
🟠18 Nov - Ronaldo meets Donald Trump at White House.
🟢25 Nov - FIFA clears Ronaldo to play in World Cup from start.
FIFA and Saudi Arabia announce joint $1bn fund for infrastructure for FIFA members. Unclear why this is needed. FIFA already distributes huge sums to FAs. Oversight of that existing spending is mixed.
November 24, 2025 at 3:23 PM
FIFA and Saudi Arabia announce joint $1bn fund for infrastructure for FIFA members. Unclear why this is needed. FIFA already distributes huge sums to FAs. Oversight of that existing spending is mixed.
Letter from West Midlands assistant chief constable to parliamentary committee outlining reasons around ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans published. Shame it wasn’t published earlier — may have prevented politicians from exploiting moment.
November 24, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Letter from West Midlands assistant chief constable to parliamentary committee outlining reasons around ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans published. Shame it wasn’t published earlier — may have prevented politicians from exploiting moment.
“Not being in the US has cost the Ronaldo brand millions. A final pension-pot World Cup is looming. With Trump in the White House and MBS at his back, it seems this is now a safe space. The quid pro quo is obvious.”
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 1:46 PM
“Not being in the US has cost the Ronaldo brand millions. A final pension-pot World Cup is looming. With Trump in the White House and MBS at his back, it seems this is now a safe space. The quid pro quo is obvious.”
Reposted by Tariq Panja
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...
The big markets Champions League sale this week has led to a 20 percent increase overall. France apparently the only market that’s slightly lower than previous cycle. Paramount entering has pushed broadcast fees up,
Including in markets where it bid but didn’t win.
Including in markets where it bid but didn’t win.
November 21, 2025 at 12:14 PM
The big markets Champions League sale this week has led to a 20 percent increase overall. France apparently the only market that’s slightly lower than previous cycle. Paramount entering has pushed broadcast fees up,
Including in markets where it bid but didn’t win.
Including in markets where it bid but didn’t win.
Premier League introduces new financial rules to replace PSR. Clubs “on-field” spending will be limited to 85 percent of their “football revenue”. They can exceed this by 30 percent in exchange for a levy for a period of time and then face sporting sanctions. The clubs rejected anchoring proposal.
November 21, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Premier League introduces new financial rules to replace PSR. Clubs “on-field” spending will be limited to 85 percent of their “football revenue”. They can exceed this by 30 percent in exchange for a levy for a period of time and then face sporting sanctions. The clubs rejected anchoring proposal.
Reposted by Tariq Panja
A Friday @podcast_libero North London derby special, with me, @jonawils and @JackPittBrooke - and discussion on what might have been one of most far-reaching decisions in football history
pod.fo/e/356f92
pod.fo/e/356f92
Libero: Libero 072 | Arsenal v Tottenham: Who Really Owns North London?
A team of interlopers from Kent are now arguably London's biggest club and with the pendulum of power swinging back Arsenal's way in recent years, a league title appears possible again. Did North L...
pod.fo
November 21, 2025 at 9:43 AM
A Friday @podcast_libero North London derby special, with me, @jonawils and @JackPittBrooke - and discussion on what might have been one of most far-reaching decisions in football history
pod.fo/e/356f92
pod.fo/e/356f92
Reposted by Tariq Panja
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response
Report on handling of pandemic contains stinging criticism of ‘toxic and chaotic’ culture inside Boris Johnson’s No 10
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:02 PM
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Paramount, which already owns Champions League rights through CBS in US, has won the contract to broadcast it in England from 2027-31, taking it away from TNT. Will be streamed on Paramount+. Chance that they can merge US/UK output. Amazon likely keeps first pick Tuesday.
November 20, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Paramount, which already owns Champions League rights through CBS in US, has won the contract to broadcast it in England from 2027-31, taking it away from TNT. Will be streamed on Paramount+. Chance that they can merge US/UK output. Amazon likely keeps first pick Tuesday.
High Court ruling in Felipe Massa case against Bernie, F1 and FIA today. Judge says history can’t be rewritten and Massa won’t be able to claim 2008 championship but can continue claim for damages for “lost career opportunities” but acknowledged if he tries it won’t be “plain sailing”.
November 20, 2025 at 11:40 AM
High Court ruling in Felipe Massa case against Bernie, F1 and FIA today. Judge says history can’t be rewritten and Massa won’t be able to claim 2008 championship but can continue claim for damages for “lost career opportunities” but acknowledged if he tries it won’t be “plain sailing”.
Reposted by Tariq Panja
Inside the Sims rebellion on.ft.com/487XQGC | opinion
Inside the Sims rebellion
Players are trying to mount a protest against the Saudi-led deal to acquire the game’s parent company Electronic Arts
on.ft.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Inside the Sims rebellion on.ft.com/487XQGC | opinion
Reposted by Tariq Panja
Bonus @liberopodcast.bsky.social with @jonawils.bsky.social and @tariqpanja.bsky.social looking back at a great week of World Cup qualification, and the stories from it
pod.fo/e/355df6
pod.fo/e/355df6
Libero: Libero 71b | ACTUALLY The Greatest Week Of Football Ever
Last week Libero called this the greatest week in football but little did we know the drama to come. In fact, there was so much to talk about we decided a bonus episode was in order. Here to talk t...
pod.fo
November 19, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Bonus @liberopodcast.bsky.social with @jonawils.bsky.social and @tariqpanja.bsky.social looking back at a great week of World Cup qualification, and the stories from it
pod.fo/e/355df6
pod.fo/e/355df6
2026 World Cup ticket update: Hearing that qualified countries will be able to sell a small number directly to their fans (as happened at previous tournaments) free of dynamic pricing nonsense. Unclear what prices will be, but will be fixed. 2026 most expensive for fans in history.
November 19, 2025 at 4:31 PM
2026 World Cup ticket update: Hearing that qualified countries will be able to sell a small number directly to their fans (as happened at previous tournaments) free of dynamic pricing nonsense. Unclear what prices will be, but will be fixed. 2026 most expensive for fans in history.
Reposted by Tariq Panja
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination
Audio recordings, intercepted phone calls and other intelligence link Mohammed bin Salman to killing that Saudis say was conducted by rogue elements.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
The president of the United States said this today: “A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen.”
Context: journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered by a Saudi hit squad and his body parts dispersed.
Context: journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered by a Saudi hit squad and his body parts dispersed.
November 19, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The president of the United States said this today: “A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen.”
Context: journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered by a Saudi hit squad and his body parts dispersed.
Context: journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered by a Saudi hit squad and his body parts dispersed.
🥱
Bill Maher says that, sure, ticket sales are declining and his audience isn't eager to leave the house, but he retired from stand-up because he "could get shot by the left or the right."
www.avclub.com/bill-maher-r...
www.avclub.com/bill-maher-r...
Bill Maher stopped doing stand-up out of fear of getting shot
Bill Maher stopped doing stand-up out of fear of getting shot
www.avclub.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:10 PM
🥱
This week has been an antidote to power club football. Make do and mend teams, full of faulty parts giving their people a night or two of glorious delirium.
November 18, 2025 at 10:30 PM
This week has been an antidote to power club football. Make do and mend teams, full of faulty parts giving their people a night or two of glorious delirium.
Reposted by Tariq Panja
What a moment. What a week of football.
November 18, 2025 at 9:43 PM
What a moment. What a week of football.
Reposted by Tariq Panja
We are doing our best not to dismember any more journalists with bone saws www.ft.com/content/dc11...
November 18, 2025 at 9:28 PM
We are doing our best not to dismember any more journalists with bone saws www.ft.com/content/dc11...
Bloody hell!!! 🏴
November 18, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Bloody hell!!! 🏴
Ronaldo who has stayed from US since 2017 now set to get red carpet treatment: White House visit with Donald Trump on day when paymaster Saudi Arabia and its leader Mohammed bin Salman also meeting Trump at Oval. Vivid Ronaldo's relationship with Saudi extends well beyond football.
November 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Ronaldo who has stayed from US since 2017 now set to get red carpet treatment: White House visit with Donald Trump on day when paymaster Saudi Arabia and its leader Mohammed bin Salman also meeting Trump at Oval. Vivid Ronaldo's relationship with Saudi extends well beyond football.
Nigeria not able to make a 48 team World Cup is quite pathetic. Dreadfully run FA gets what it deserves. So much talent and passion for football there and let down by the federation time and again. DRC far better throughout. Should have won before pens.
November 16, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Nigeria not able to make a 48 team World Cup is quite pathetic. Dreadfully run FA gets what it deserves. So much talent and passion for football there and let down by the federation time and again. DRC far better throughout. Should have won before pens.
Reposted by Tariq Panja
ICYMI: Your Sunday long-read on what went on inside the BBC this week during a crisis sparked by a Trump documentary.
November 16, 2025 at 11:01 AM
ICYMI: Your Sunday long-read on what went on inside the BBC this week during a crisis sparked by a Trump documentary.
Seven Days of Paralysis: Inside the BBC Crisis Over a Trump Documentary
Joined forces with @bradleyjane.bsky.social to document a very peculiar behind the scenes meltdown at the Beeb.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/w...
Joined forces with @bradleyjane.bsky.social to document a very peculiar behind the scenes meltdown at the Beeb.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/w...
Seven Days of Paralysis: Inside the BBC Crisis Over a Trump Documentary
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Seven Days of Paralysis: Inside the BBC Crisis Over a Trump Documentary
Joined forces with @bradleyjane.bsky.social to document a very peculiar behind the scenes meltdown at the Beeb.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/w...
Joined forces with @bradleyjane.bsky.social to document a very peculiar behind the scenes meltdown at the Beeb.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/w...