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Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 1d

In my speech at @playthegame-org.bsky.social 2025 in Finland, I delved into Donald Trump’s bond with the UFC and reveal the cast of power players shaping his sports agenda.

You can reach the speech and watch the entire session here: www.sportspolitika.news/p/speech-tru...

Speech: Trump, the UFC, and the new world order in sports

In my speech at Play the Game 2025, I delve into Donald Trump’s bond with the UFC and reveal the cast of power players shaping his sports agenda.

www.sportspolitika.news

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Reposted by Karim Zidan

Play the Game @playthegame-org.bsky.social · 2d

How sport became one of Trump's most powerful tools🛠️

Go to the theme page that traces Donald Trump's extensive use of sports as both a personal branding tool and a central instrument of political power and public influence💡👇

playthegame.org/projects/tru...

@karimzidan.com

How Trump has turned sport from brand to power

Decades of self-promotion through sport have become the foundation of Donald Trump's political theatre.

playthegame.org

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Reposted by Karim Zidan

Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 8d

The Rock is teasing a future presidential run...again. And yet, for a wrestler once known as “The People’s Champ,” he seems wary of taking sides. So instead, he serves up Hallmark sentiments dressed as politics while courting conservatives on Fox News.

www.sportspolitika.news/p/dwayne-the...

Between ‘The Rock’ and a hard place

For a wrestler once known as “The People’s Champ,” The Rock seems remarkably wary of taking sides. And by serving up little more than Hallmark sentiments dressed as politics, he alienates everyone.

www.sportspolitika.news

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Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 8d

Wrote this back in February after Dana White defended a Hitler-loving UFC fighter but it is just as relevant after his free speech remarks on 60 Minutes.

www.sportspolitika.news/p/dana-white...

Dana White loves free speech, but his UFC still bans journalists like me

The UFC's Dana White is casting himself as the champion of free speech despite fronting for a sports league infamous for its heavy-handed repression of the media, including journalists like me.

www.sportspolitika.news

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Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 8d

The Rock is teasing a future presidential run...again. And yet, for a wrestler once known as “The People’s Champ,” he seems wary of taking sides. So instead, he serves up Hallmark sentiments dressed as politics while courting conservatives on Fox News.

www.sportspolitika.news/p/dwayne-the...

Between ‘The Rock’ and a hard place

For a wrestler once known as “The People’s Champ,” The Rock seems remarkably wary of taking sides. And by serving up little more than Hallmark sentiments dressed as politics, he alienates everyone.

www.sportspolitika.news

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Reposted by Karim Zidan

Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 9d

Many migrant workers who came to Qatar to build the 2022 WC infrastructure found themselves jobless after the tournament. @josimarfootball.bsky.social reveals how some of them have been recruited by the Russian army, are fighting and die on the Ukrainian front.

josimarfootball.com/2025/09/25/t...

The migrant soldiers - josimarfootball.com

For months, the Russian army has secretly recruited hundreds, if not thousands, of jobless migrant workers in Qatar to fight on the frontline against Ukraine.

josimarfootball.com

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Reposted by Karim Zidan

Sharon Nadeem @sharonnadeem.bsky.social · 13d

Was honoured to be asked by @karimzidan.com to write the latest edition of @sportspolitika.news! It focuses on my reporting on why Canada's Davis Cup tournament was played behind closed doors. And how it fits into the growing movement to ban Israel from sports.

sportspolitika.news/p/double-fau...

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Reposted by Karim Zidan

Jules Boykoff @julesboykoff.bsky.social · 13d

My latest @theguardian.com: "Fifa banned Russia from international football. Now it must do the same for Israel." As Israel inflicts untold misery on Palestinians, it is time for soccer’s governing bodies to stand by the principles they claim to uphold www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Fifa banned Russia from international football. Now it must do the same for Israel

As Israel inflicts untold misery on Palestinians, it is time for football’s governing bodies to stand by the principles they claim to uphold

www.theguardian.com

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Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 19d

This week's @sportspolitika.news round-up:

-Cycling on roads paved in blood
-Spain’s PM calls for Israel sports ban
-Trans student abandons suit over safety risks
-India-Pakistan Cricket diplomacy collapses
-Morocco to turn World Cup stadiums into courts

www.sportspolitika.news/p/uci-cyclin...

The Road Paved in Blood

This week's roundup: UCI events run on roads paved in blood; Spain’s PM calls for Israel sports ban;Trans student abandons lawsuit over safety risks; Cricket diplomacy collapses between India-Pakistan

www.sportspolitika.news

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Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 20d

More than 774 athletes have been killed by Israeli forces since Oct. 7, 2023, including at least 355 footballers. Their are also 119 missing athletes & 288 destroyed sports facilities.

How is Israel still allowed to compete in global sports?

www.sportspolitika.news/p/israel-spo...

Israel is committing genocide. Why is it still welcome in global sports?

The sports world claims to stand for peace and unity yet turns a blind eye as Israel kills athletes, journalists and civilians in Gaza.

www.sportspolitika.news

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Reposted by Karim Zidan

Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 21d

The Trump admin is weaponizing Charlie Kirk's murder to crack down on the Left. Meanwhile, your favourite sports leagues have also picked sides.

www.sportspolitika.news/p/charlie-ki...

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Reposted by Karim Zidan

Victor @vicmrodriguez.bsky.social · 21d

This is good, and I'd also urge you follow the one and only @karimzidan.com for so much more regarding sports-washing and propaganda efforts via sports.

Awful Announcing @awfulannouncing.bsky.social · 21d

NFL stars are the latest to take part in Saudi sportswashing and Katie Nolan has seen enough.

http://dlvr.it/TN7Zq4

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Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 21d

The Trump admin is weaponizing Charlie Kirk's murder to crack down on the Left. Meanwhile, your favourite sports leagues have also picked sides.

www.sportspolitika.news/p/charlie-ki...

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Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 22d

Congrats on the new book, Cynthia! Can't wait to read it!

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Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 23d

"Sports don’t transcend politics—they enforce them. And the politics they enforce are the politics of division, nationalism, and exclusion."

www.sportspolitika.news/p/charlie-ki...

Sports in Charlie Kirk’s America

When sports leagues celebrate a man who profited on hate and division, it doesn’t just undercut the myth of unity in sports—it exposes what sports have become in Charlie Kirk’s America.

www.sportspolitika.news

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Reposted by Karim Zidan

Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 24d

When sports leagues celebrate a man who profited on hate and division, it doesn’t just undercut the myth of unity in sports—it exposes what sports have become in Charlie Kirk’s America.

www.sportspolitika.news/p/charlie-ki...

Sports in Charlie Kirk’s America

When sports leagues celebrate a man who profited on hate and division, it doesn’t just undercut the myth of unity in sports—it exposes what sports have become in Charlie Kirk’s America.

www.sportspolitika.news

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Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 24d

When sports leagues celebrate a man who profited on hate and division, it doesn’t just undercut the myth of unity in sports—it exposes what sports have become in Charlie Kirk’s America.

www.sportspolitika.news/p/charlie-ki...

Sports in Charlie Kirk’s America

When sports leagues celebrate a man who profited on hate and division, it doesn’t just undercut the myth of unity in sports—it exposes what sports have become in Charlie Kirk’s America.

www.sportspolitika.news

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Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · 28d

It was always a matter of time before Saudi Arabia hosted a WrestleMania. Few things were more predictable than this. In fact, that's exactly what I said last year www.sportspolitika.news/p/wwe-wrestl...

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Reposted by Karim Zidan

Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · Sep 8

From cage fights at the White House to crowd censorship at the US Open, Trump’s sports appearances are a contest of power, loyalty, and spectacle.

www.sportspolitika.news/p/trump-spor...

To understand Trump, look to the arena

From cage fights at the White House to crowd censorship at the US Open, Trump’s sports appearances are a contest of power, loyalty, and spectacle.

www.sportspolitika.news

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Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · Sep 8

Sports underscore the political cronyism rampant in the Trump-era: corporate favors, regulatory green lights, and billion-dollar deals flowing to those willing to play along and stroke dear leader's ego.

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Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · Sep 8

From cage fights at the White House to crowd censorship at the US Open, Trump’s sports appearances are a contest of power, loyalty, and spectacle.

www.sportspolitika.news/p/trump-spor...

To understand Trump, look to the arena

From cage fights at the White House to crowd censorship at the US Open, Trump’s sports appearances are a contest of power, loyalty, and spectacle.

www.sportspolitika.news

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Reposted by Karim Zidan

Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · Sep 6

Broke some news at Bounces overnight:

Donald Trump will attend the men's final on Sunday as a guest of Rolex, the Swiss watchmaker which is a major US Open sponsor and which has a major interest in convincing Trump to reduce high tariffs on Switzerland.

www.benrothenberg.com/p/donald-tru...

Why Donald Trump is Returning to the U.S. Open

A decade after he was booed out of the U.S. Open, Bounces can report who has invited Trump back courtside.

www.benrothenberg.com

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Reposted by Karim Zidan

Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · Sep 6

Breaking some news at Bounces:

Following @marisakabas.bsky.social’s initial report, I have learned who invited Donald Trump to the #USOpen mens final on Sunday, which will be his first return to the tournament since being booed in 2015.

www.benrothenberg.com/p/donald-tru...

Why Donald Trump is Returning to the U.S. Open

A decade after he was booed out of the U.S. Open, Bounces can report who has invited Trump back courtside.

www.benrothenberg.com

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Reposted by Karim Zidan

Karim Zidan @karimzidan.com · Sep 5

This week roundup:
Djokovic becomes target of Serbian gov
UFC White House event confirmed
Ronaldo stars in Saudi tourism ad
Gulf states purchase F1 champs
Canada sports system "broken."

www.sportspolitika.news/p/for-djokov...

For Djokovic, it’s tennis abroad, politics at home

This week's roundup: Djokovic becomes target of Serbian gov; UFC White House event confirmed; Ronaldo stars in Saudi tourism ad; Gulf states purchase F1 champs; Canada sports system "broken."

www.sportspolitika.news

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