Just finished facilitating a session on the social impact of football @fairgameuk.bsky.social conference. Really enjoyed it. A lot of good folk here.

Afcon 2025: Morocco declared the winners after Caf overturns final defeat by Senegal Morocco declared the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football overturns the result of their final defeat by Senegal.

Initially I thought this was ludicrous but if the precedent can be applied elsewhere, there are a couple of jobs I might yet get and a couple of funding bids I might yet win.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

I hope Michael Sheen hosts House of Games in character as Brian Clough.

I wish I had been better at football as a youngster. Even a largely unimpressive career could have got me to the real summit: becoming a Sporting Director. It's the best job ever! Little accountability, decent job security, and you get to go on a shopping spree every year.

Divorced
Beheaded
Substituted in the opening 20 minutes?

UK launches operation to support thousands of Britons in Middle East Officials are understood to be working on plans to evacuate British nationals, should airspace remain closed.

So, the UK taxpayer is supporting thousands of Brits who didn't want to be UK taxpayers. Cool.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

How was everyone's 2025? I was fortunate enough to have two fellowships in the same Czech city, at the Universities of Brno and Brno Brookes.

McCullum: England 'over-prepared' in second Test build-up Head coach defends planned break between Brisbane and Adelaide Tests with series on line

A good line to remember for that tricky “do you have any flaws? question that interview panels seem keen on.

www.espncricinfo.com/story/brendo...

Neser and Boland are just landing it in the right spot and letting the ball do the work. England are obsessed with 90 mph bowlers, but for this series they would have been better off getting Joe Leach out of retirement.

Australia are going to get a visit from the pitch inspectors. Eight championship points docked for a substandard deck.

I think whoever designed the new Blues ground has been listening to a lot of Pink Floyd.

There's often a chap (sometimes more than one) set up on my route to work, playing guitar. He has a mic, an amp and it seems like he has a small PA. If you are fully amplified, are you still a busker?

R360: Nations issue international blanket ban on recruited players Rugby's leading nations come together to issue a blanket ban on R360 recruits playing internationals.

Time will tell but this seems like it could be the next Grand Slam Track.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...

Super Bowl 2026: Bad Bunny to perform at half-time show The Puerto Rican pop star has otherwise avoided the US on his forthcoming world tour because of ICE.

This is the first time I have genuinely never heard of the half time act. Not the performer's problem obviously, but a worrying development for me. This is clear a sign as any that I've crossed into middle age.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It turns out bowling ok in a novelty tournament isn’t really the prep you need for international cricket. On the plus side, quizmasters everywhere have a new question for their bank.

I was in Tesco and they were playing the Liquidator over the PA. Might be the first time I've heard it without... I'll call them embellishments.

Graduation day today, our session is in a bit. I've already dropped by the Symphony Hall to see one of my dissertation students who rearranged their ceremony, due to a clash with Oasis at Wembley. I can think of some academics who would be more sympathetic with that than others.

Reform Warwickshire council head quits after five weeks, leaving 18-year-old in charge Rob Howard says ‘health challenges’ are behind resignation and teenage deputy George Finch will lead until replacement found

Now the interim leader might be good, bad or indifferent but the thing that came to mind straight away is Ice Town.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

HS2 delayed beyond 2033 as minister attacks ‘appalling mess’ Heidi Alexander says billions wasted in ‘litany of failure’, amid speculation cost will now exceed £100bn

On the face of it this is a terrible waste of time, money and resource. However, put yourself in the shoes of a lecturer who can see HS2 from his office window, and needs examples of failed government policy for lectures. Every cloud.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Doing something funny with my hands while presenting @sportanthro.bsky.social conference last week. A good event and a very welcoming crowd.

In a study of UK police sergeants, Scott Banks and @dranthonymay.bsky.social examine the impact of New Public Management strategies on policing, using semi-structured interviews to explore their managerial challenges www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Looking forward to seeing this. "Not a brand": hallelujah!

USMEC : US Military-Entertainment Complex from the Cold War to the War on Terror This research project examines how American popular culture, including movies, TV shows, and other media, intersects with U.S. military and foreign policy messaging from the Cold War to today. The PhD...

...and this one is supervised by @dranthonymay.bsky.social alongside two colleagues from Criminology and Security Studies, @euanraffle.bsky.social and Dr Ryan O'Connor.

www.bcu.ac.uk/research/our...

USMEC : US Military-Entertainment Complex from the Cold War to the War on Terror This research project examines how American popular culture, including movies, TV shows, and other media, intersects with U.S. military and foreign policy messaging from the Cold War to today. The PhD...

I'm supervising a funded PhD. Nice. If you know of someone who might be a good fit for this project (link is below), feel free to pass it on to them. Euan and Ryan are both excellent, and it's a great opportunity all in all.

www.bcu.ac.uk/research/our...

I'm not sure "we're going to finish 14th but look at our stadium plans" is quite the sell they think it is.

The impact of alcohol sales on perceptions of security amongst Brazilian football fans In 2003, the Estatuto de Defesa do Torcedor (Fans’ Bill of Rights Act) was introduced in an effort to curb fan violence, resulting in the prohibition of alcohol sales in Brazilian sports stadiums. ...

New article out in Annals of Leisure Research which could be of interest if you're into one or more of security, football fan experience, perceptions of alcohol, and Brazil. Due credit must go to co-authors & BlueSky naysayers Buso, Bason, and Owen.

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

If the current decision makers had been on the Titanic, they would have responded to the iceberg by sacking the band.

Football fans will defend pretty much anything if their club does it, but it's still been a bit odd to see some people greeting the removal of free meals as some kind of management masterstroke.

Good to start the day by having an article accepted. Should hopefully be out soon, after we navigate the proofs…
This is a blatant academic brag for which I will do a good deed of some sort in penance.

Que sera sera…