
The Sweeper India’s Super League crisis, Poland’s utterly mad Ekstraklasa & Christmas Island's red crabs
In Part 1, Lee and Paul are joined by Asia correspondent John Duerden to cast a look at some huge stories across the continent – in India, Malaysia and South Korea. What on earth happened on Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour of Kolkata? And why is the world’s largest country still without a top-flight league months after the season should have gotten under way? What has the fallout been from Malaysia’s attempt to illegally naturalise seven players? And why did Gus Poyet resign in protest after winning the double with Jeonbuk in South Korea?
In Part 2, Africa correspondent Ali Howorth drops in before flying to Morocco to give us the lowdown on AFCON 2025 and help us decide which team to support at the tournament. Then it’s over to Europe to put the Ekstraklasa under the microscope. But what unique situation that we have never seen before has occurred in Poland’s top flight? And finally, to mark the festive season, there is a mention for Christmas Island – an Australian overseas territory that is known for its red crabs and its football rivalry with the nearby Cocos Islands.
World Soccer magazine special offer: shop.kelsey.co.uk/sweeperxmas25
John Duerden’s Substack newsletter: https://howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com
Ali Howarth’s AFCON flow chart: https://x.com/ahoworth97/status/2001293214012014953
Chapters
00:00 – Intro
00:35 – India’s Super League crisis
08:56 – Other leagues in limbo worldwide
11:29 – Malaysia’s naturalisation scandal
21:47 – Gus Poyet’s Jeonbuk departure
27:17 – AFCON 2025 in Morocco
39:55 – The crazy Polish Ekstraklasa
44:25 – Mayhem & chaos across UEFA
48:00 – Christmas Island and red crabs
53:45 – On The Spot - The Apertura crown
