James Montague, a journalist and author specializing in Middle Eastern football, shares his insights on the contentious 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He delves into the intricate relationship between football and politics, highlighting the human rights concerns, especially for migrant workers. Montague also discusses Qatar's cultural evolution in sports, contrasting its development with other Gulf nations. The conversation navigates the geopolitical tensions surrounding the tournament and the broader implications for LGBTQ+ rights and societal change in the region.
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Desailly in Qatar
James Montague recounts a time in Qatar when he easily met Marcel Desailly.
This contrasted sharply with Desailly's guarded accessibility in Europe, highlighting Qatar's then-relaxed atmosphere.
insights INSIGHT
Qatar's Football Culture
Qatar's football culture, though young, exists with its own stories and heroes.
Montague emphasizes that even small, less-known teams possess rich footballing histories and traditions.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Yemen and Kat
Montague shares an anecdote about his time in Yemen reporting on the national team's Kat use.
He describes chewing Kat with the team and experiencing a powerful high, highlighting the drug's prevalence.
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Inside Qatar offers a nuanced exploration of life in Qatar, a nation transformed from a pearl diving economy to a gas-rich powerhouse. The book delves into the lives of its gilded elite, migrant workers, and domestic workers, highlighting issues like unfettered capitalism, migration, inequality, and climate change. Through his anthropological lens, John McManus provides a fair-minded account of Qatar's complexities.
When Friday Comes
James Montague
In 'When Friday Comes', James Montague chronicles the Middle East's transformation into a football powerhouse, from the revolutionary ultras of the Arab Spring to Qatar's controversial hosting of the 2022 World Cup. Montague's narrative is based on his extensive travels across the region, meeting fans, players, and campaigners to paint a vibrant picture of football in a complex and dynamic world.
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The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has officially kicked off, but not without its controversies. Ever since Qatar was awarded the tournament in 2010, making it the first country in the Middle East to do so, there has been scepticism from the West around the decision, with critics citing human rights violations, LGBT rights, and corruption within FIFA. On this episode of the podcast we're joined by journalist and author James Montague who first began covering football in the Middle East two decades ago. Drawing on his book, When Friday Comes: Football revolution in the Middle East and the road to Qatar, he discusses the intersection of football, politics, and global power. The host for this episode is Joey D’Urso, investigations writer for The Athletic UK.
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