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Sport Unlocked

A podcast by: Sports News Insiders

From the pitches to the boardrooms, the stories behind the big decisions by sports leaders affecting every fan. Featuring sports news insiders Rob Harris, Martyn Ziegler, Tariq Panja and more

148 Episodes

Doping scandal - why weren't Chinese swimmers banned?; New Club World Cup on Apple?; FIFA's new committees going back on corruption reforms?; When clubs rage against refs & VAR; Olympics AI; Everton
Published 2024-04-24

State of Chelsea finances; Agent spending; Cash for Olympic gold - should ever sport follow athletics?; Opposition to Russians competing collapses; Israel shift to SAmerican football?; Running Africa
Published 2024-04-13
Tech helping or hindering sport? Interview - Hawk-Eye founder behind VAR, GLT & more; Premier League club finances analysed; IOC hoax call
Published 2024-04-06
World Cup host nation concerns - Spain racism & Mexico homophobia; Media's selective discrimination outrage?; Abramovich-era Chelsea investigations; UEFA's Liverpool fans' dispute; Bach IOC future
Published 2024-03-29
FIFA finances - Infantino 33% salary rise; Spain's Saudi deal investigated; Russia's hoax call to IOC?; Transgender policies; European football racism
Published 2024-03-24
UEFA automated Champions League draws; FIFA gives Qatar & Morocco 5 years of World Cups; States can own English football teams but not papers?; Can FIFA produce an anti-racism plan?; Paris Olympics
Published 2024-03-17
Chelsea's financial challenges; Paris 2024 issues & IOC speaking out on Russia; Women’s football - dangerous playing conditions for U20s Asian Cup, Euros draw a month before qualifiers, UK WWC bid
Published 2024-03-09
Are Premier League financial rules broken?; Why has former Saudi critic Javier Tebas become a backer?; Is sport overlooking China concerns?; Does football need FIFA Series?; Who is watching athletics?
Published 2024-03-03
Meeting Jim Ratcliffe - hearing plans for Manchester United; Protests force Bundesliga u-turn; Russia’s football friends; Putin's Games; Kiptum, Betani & Brehme tributes
Published 2024-02-25
Ceferin UEFA exit plan - term limits & test of loyalty; UEFA rebuffs Israel ban; Blue card frenzy; PL rules row; PSG leaving stadium; Paris 2024 pay probe; LIV's consultants; Super Bowl conspiracies
Published 2024-02-10
World Cup 2026 final venue; Can sports chiefs accept term limits?; Why transfer spending was low in Premier League; Valieva doping - can a 15-year-old be liable?; Paris 2024 challenges; Fans as media
Published 2024-02-05
Why Boban quit UEFA & what's the impact on Ceferin? Klopp & Xavi exits; Man United's new CEO; Shevchenko becomes Ukraine FA chief; Cricket drama; Trans athletes - swimmer's challenge & golfer's win
Published 2024-01-30
How Premier League handles financial investigations into Man City, Everton, Nottingham Forest; Man United sale details revealed; Around FIFA awards; Saudi's golden snooker ball; Rugby players to NFL
Published 2024-01-20
Beckenbauer tributes & troubles - the media challenge; Where FIFA has opened up transparency; Stars leaving Saudi?; Asian Cup & AFCON; Newcastle finances; Doping corruption case; Cricket racism
Published 2024-01-13
2024 big issues: Super League fallout; PL financial probes; Man U ownership; UEFA CL revamp & Euros; Saudi World Cup countdown; Russia FIFA ban; Paris Games challenge; Darts lessons for other sports
Published 2024-01-06
Super League case verdict - can there be a breakaway & what the ruling means for UEFA & the future of football; From Saudi Arabia on Club World Cup & Infantino's FIFA meetings; Women's WC fallout
Published 2023-12-23
European football unrest: Turkish ref punch & Greece shuts out fans; Ceferin's UEFA future; FIFA move to Paris and Miami; Money game: Football agents $888m, Ohtani $700m, Rahm $500m; 1st PL female ref
Published 2023-12-17
Premier League TV rights; Asian men's CL becomes Saudi tournament; UEFA women's CL revamp; Rubiales - new details; Infantino at COP; No Commonwealth Games host; Brazilian football drama
Published 2023-12-09
Inside summit of football lawmakers & ref chiefs; Cristiano Ronaldo crypto; Sheikh Mansour newspaper bid; Olympic hosts decided; Paris2024 issues; Venables & media; Women's leagues changes in England
Published 2023-12-03
PL clubs' big split & how proportionate is Everton's sanction; Does Wembley arch now not being lit vindicate FIFA on armbands?; Brazil fan violence; Ukraine frustration with UEFA; Bulgaria FA turmoil
Published 2023-11-25
Man City finances examined; Real Madrid AGM - new Super League push; Abramovich's Chelsea dealings investigated; FIFA's new Saudi sponsor - new questions over 2034 World Cup process; F1 Vegas chaos
Published 2023-11-19
How Saudi Arabia secured 2034 World Cup - alliance with Infantino, Bin Salman's success, helpful curtailed FIFA process, side-lining congress and difficulties caused for FIFA comms team by Insta posts
Published 2023-11-03
Infantino back in Saudi Arabia & Swiss investigation dropped; African Football League launch; Rugby World Cup changes & impact of France 2023; Everton investigation; Sir Bobby Charlton remembered
Published 2023-10-28
Football's struggle mourning Israel-Hamas war victims; Interview - FIFA VP Montagliani on World Cup host changes, 2034 Saudi deal, comms, inside decisionmaking; UEFA Russia reversal; Bach's IOC future
Published 2023-10-20
FIFA's sudden 2030 & 2034 World Cup decisions - behind-the-scenes deals & Saudi's loyal support; FIFA relaxes Russia ban; Comms analysed; UEFA VP loses Swedish role over Russia; Euros; Beckham Qatar
Published 2023-10-07
Russia's readmission - UEFA splits European football; Osimhen abuse - why is it turned into transfer speculation?; English club's 17bn on social media claim; Marathon shoes; Running from drug testers
Published 2023-10-03
FIFA focus: 2026 World Cup struggles; Infantino at UN; Where's FIFA game as EA launches FC?; Samoura's award. MBS on sportswashing. 777 & Everton. PL TV rights. Spain update.
Published 2023-09-23
Spain scandal - missing outcry from football's male leaders; Jordan Henderson struggles with Saudi issues; UEFA cash deal with clubs; Man United's decision-making woes; Quicker English FFP cases
Published 2023-09-08
Spain scandal - Rubiales yet to resign and assessing football's response to the forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso. Saudi Arabia transfer splurge & World Cup bid plan; World Athletics Champions impact
Published 2023-09-04
Infantino - fair scrutiny?; Challenge reporting FIFA funding; UEFA FFP decisions lack detail; Euro 2028-32 bidding; Interview with British Cycling chief; End of Commonwealth Games?
Published 2023-08-08
Infantino leaves World Cup; FIFA tries to block sexual abuse questions; Mbappe rejects Saudi; Kuwaiti Olympic powerbroker banned; World Aquatics HQ to Hungary; Who owns Tottenham? Joe Lewis indicted
Published 2023-07-29
World Cup pay battles, Infantino & sponsor shortcomings; Jordan Henderson & Saudi; Commonwealth Games future after Australian rejection; Olympics climate change impact; Messi in Miami - assessing MLS
Published 2023-07-21
Saudi sports investment - golfers respond; UEFA multiclub ownership changes; Women's WC pay & armbands; PL gaining FA Cup control?; PSG owner troubles; Russians return to Wimbledon; Cricket's future
Published 2023-07-08
New New Manchester City allegations; English cricket racism, sexism, elitism; Sports events for dopers?; UEFA acts on long contracts; Is UEFA too close to a fans' group?
Published 2023-07-01
Saudi transfer spree; Is Man City's group worth $6bn?; What's happening to cash from Chelsea's sale; Racism & homophobia in football - what's FIFA doing?; Raid on Paris 2024 Olympics HQ
Published 2023-06-24
Impact on UEFA & Turkey Euros bid after Istanbul CL final disarray; Premier League clampdown on leveraged takeovers & wage bills; Fatma Samoura's FIFA exit; Man City's treble; Mbappe & PSG; PIF golf
Published 2023-06-17
Saudi Arabia's sporting dominance - takeover of men's golf & nationalising leading domestic football clubs. Messi rejects Saudi & Barca for Miami; Olympics boxing dispute Snooker match fixing bans
Published 2023-06-09
Salary cap for European football?; Abuse of referees; FIFA Women's WC rights; Chelsea execs exit; Paris Olympics chaos; Djokovic's Serbia-Kosovo clash at French Open; Isle of Man motorcycling dangers
Published 2023-06-04
Spanish football racism: Vinicius Jr's suffering, La Liga's criticism & protocol shortcomings. Manchester City: Investigation delays as title's won. 2026 FIFA WC logo. Qatar for Rugby League WC?
Published 2023-05-25
Athletics struggle for attention - what's wrong; European football finances revealed - how UEFA's spreading cash; Cricket expansion - is there space for more T20 competitions?; Funding Wrexham stadium
Published 2023-05-14

From the pitches to the boardrooms, the stories behind the big decisions by sports leaders affecting every fan. Featuring sports news insiders Rob Harris, Martyn Ziegler, Tariq Panja and more

148 Episodes

Doping scandal - why weren't Chinese swimmers banned?; New Club World Cup on Apple?; FIFA's new committees going back on corruption reforms?; When clubs rage against refs & VAR; Olympics AI; Everton

State of Chelsea finances; Agent spending; Cash for Olympic gold - should ever sport follow athletics?; Opposition to Russians competing collapses; Israel shift to SAmerican football?; Running Africa

Tech helping or hindering sport? Interview - Hawk-Eye founder behind VAR, GLT & more; Premier League club finances analysed; IOC hoax call

World Cup host nation concerns - Spain racism & Mexico homophobia; Media's selective discrimination outrage?; Abramovich-era Chelsea investigations; UEFA's Liverpool fans' dispute; Bach IOC future

FIFA finances - Infantino 33% salary rise; Spain's Saudi deal investigated; Russia's hoax call to IOC?; Transgender policies; European football racism

UEFA automated Champions League draws; FIFA gives Qatar & Morocco 5 years of World Cups; States can own English football teams but not papers?; Can FIFA produce an anti-racism plan?; Paris Olympics

Chelsea's financial challenges; Paris 2024 issues & IOC speaking out on Russia; Women’s football - dangerous playing conditions for U20s Asian Cup, Euros draw a month before qualifiers, UK WWC bid

Are Premier League financial rules broken?; Why has former Saudi critic Javier Tebas become a backer?; Is sport overlooking China concerns?; Does football need FIFA Series?; Who is watching athletics?

Meeting Jim Ratcliffe - hearing plans for Manchester United; Protests force Bundesliga u-turn; Russia’s football friends; Putin's Games; Kiptum, Betani & Brehme tributes

Ceferin UEFA exit plan - term limits & test of loyalty; UEFA rebuffs Israel ban; Blue card frenzy; PL rules row; PSG leaving stadium; Paris 2024 pay probe; LIV's consultants; Super Bowl conspiracies

World Cup 2026 final venue; Can sports chiefs accept term limits?; Why transfer spending was low in Premier League; Valieva doping - can a 15-year-old be liable?; Paris 2024 challenges; Fans as media

Why Boban quit UEFA & what's the impact on Ceferin? Klopp & Xavi exits; Man United's new CEO; Shevchenko becomes Ukraine FA chief; Cricket drama; Trans athletes - swimmer's challenge & golfer's win

How Premier League handles financial investigations into Man City, Everton, Nottingham Forest; Man United sale details revealed; Around FIFA awards; Saudi's golden snooker ball; Rugby players to NFL

Beckenbauer tributes & troubles - the media challenge; Where FIFA has opened up transparency; Stars leaving Saudi?; Asian Cup & AFCON; Newcastle finances; Doping corruption case; Cricket racism

2024 big issues: Super League fallout; PL financial probes; Man U ownership; UEFA CL revamp & Euros; Saudi World Cup countdown; Russia FIFA ban; Paris Games challenge; Darts lessons for other sports

Super League case verdict - can there be a breakaway & what the ruling means for UEFA & the future of football; From Saudi Arabia on Club World Cup & Infantino's FIFA meetings; Women's WC fallout

European football unrest: Turkish ref punch & Greece shuts out fans; Ceferin's UEFA future; FIFA move to Paris and Miami; Money game: Football agents $888m, Ohtani $700m, Rahm $500m; 1st PL female ref

Premier League TV rights; Asian men's CL becomes Saudi tournament; UEFA women's CL revamp; Rubiales - new details; Infantino at COP; No Commonwealth Games host; Brazilian football drama

Inside summit of football lawmakers & ref chiefs; Cristiano Ronaldo crypto; Sheikh Mansour newspaper bid; Olympic hosts decided; Paris2024 issues; Venables & media; Women's leagues changes in England

PL clubs' big split & how proportionate is Everton's sanction; Does Wembley arch now not being lit vindicate FIFA on armbands?; Brazil fan violence; Ukraine frustration with UEFA; Bulgaria FA turmoil

Man City finances examined; Real Madrid AGM - new Super League push; Abramovich's Chelsea dealings investigated; FIFA's new Saudi sponsor - new questions over 2034 World Cup process; F1 Vegas chaos

How Saudi Arabia secured 2034 World Cup - alliance with Infantino, Bin Salman's success, helpful curtailed FIFA process, side-lining congress and difficulties caused for FIFA comms team by Insta posts

Infantino back in Saudi Arabia & Swiss investigation dropped; African Football League launch; Rugby World Cup changes & impact of France 2023; Everton investigation; Sir Bobby Charlton remembered

Football's struggle mourning Israel-Hamas war victims; Interview - FIFA VP Montagliani on World Cup host changes, 2034 Saudi deal, comms, inside decisionmaking; UEFA Russia reversal; Bach's IOC future

FIFA's sudden 2030 & 2034 World Cup decisions - behind-the-scenes deals & Saudi's loyal support; FIFA relaxes Russia ban; Comms analysed; UEFA VP loses Swedish role over Russia; Euros; Beckham Qatar

Russia's readmission - UEFA splits European football; Osimhen abuse - why is it turned into transfer speculation?; English club's 17bn on social media claim; Marathon shoes; Running from drug testers

FIFA focus: 2026 World Cup struggles; Infantino at UN; Where's FIFA game as EA launches FC?; Samoura's award. MBS on sportswashing. 777 & Everton. PL TV rights. Spain update.

Spain scandal - missing outcry from football's male leaders; Jordan Henderson struggles with Saudi issues; UEFA cash deal with clubs; Man United's decision-making woes; Quicker English FFP cases

Spain scandal - Rubiales yet to resign and assessing football's response to the forced kiss on Jenni Hermoso. Saudi Arabia transfer splurge & World Cup bid plan; World Athletics Champions impact

Infantino - fair scrutiny?; Challenge reporting FIFA funding; UEFA FFP decisions lack detail; Euro 2028-32 bidding; Interview with British Cycling chief; End of Commonwealth Games?

Infantino leaves World Cup; FIFA tries to block sexual abuse questions; Mbappe rejects Saudi; Kuwaiti Olympic powerbroker banned; World Aquatics HQ to Hungary; Who owns Tottenham? Joe Lewis indicted

World Cup pay battles, Infantino & sponsor shortcomings; Jordan Henderson & Saudi; Commonwealth Games future after Australian rejection; Olympics climate change impact; Messi in Miami - assessing MLS

Saudi sports investment - golfers respond; UEFA multiclub ownership changes; Women's WC pay & armbands; PL gaining FA Cup control?; PSG owner troubles; Russians return to Wimbledon; Cricket's future

New New Manchester City allegations; English cricket racism, sexism, elitism; Sports events for dopers?; UEFA acts on long contracts; Is UEFA too close to a fans' group?

Saudi transfer spree; Is Man City's group worth $6bn?; What's happening to cash from Chelsea's sale; Racism & homophobia in football - what's FIFA doing?; Raid on Paris 2024 Olympics HQ

Impact on UEFA & Turkey Euros bid after Istanbul CL final disarray; Premier League clampdown on leveraged takeovers & wage bills; Fatma Samoura's FIFA exit; Man City's treble; Mbappe & PSG; PIF golf

Saudi Arabia's sporting dominance - takeover of men's golf & nationalising leading domestic football clubs. Messi rejects Saudi & Barca for Miami; Olympics boxing dispute Snooker match fixing bans

Salary cap for European football?; Abuse of referees; FIFA Women's WC rights; Chelsea execs exit; Paris Olympics chaos; Djokovic's Serbia-Kosovo clash at French Open; Isle of Man motorcycling dangers

Spanish football racism: Vinicius Jr's suffering, La Liga's criticism & protocol shortcomings. Manchester City: Investigation delays as title's won. 2026 FIFA WC logo. Qatar for Rugby League WC?

Athletics struggle for attention - what's wrong; European football finances revealed - how UEFA's spreading cash; Cricket expansion - is there space for more T20 competitions?; Funding Wrexham stadium