Even soccer is a target in Israel’s war on Palestine w/Abdullah Al-Arian | Edge of Sports

As in most of the world, soccer, or football, is an immensely popular sport among Palestinians. From Gaza to the West Bank to the diaspora, the Beautiful Game plays a crucial role in the social life of Palestinian people. So of course, soccer is not immune from Israel’s war against Palestinian existence. While some fans and a handful of players have dared to speak out against Israel’s genocide, many of the most powerful institutions and figures in the sport have remained silent. Dr. Abdullah Al-Arian joins Edge of Sports for a discussion on the game’s significance to Palestine, and what the international response from the soccer world could and must look like. Abdullah Al-Arian is an associate professor of history at Georgetown University in Qatar. He is the author of Answering the Call: Popular Islamic Activism in Sadat’s Egypt and the editor of Football in the Middle East: State, Society, and the Beautiful Game. He is editor of the “Critical Currents in Islam“ page on the Jadaliyya e-zine. Studio Production: David Hebden Post-Production: Taylor Hebden Audio Post-Production: David Hebden Opening Sequence: Cameron Granadino Music by: Eze Jackson & Carlos Guillen The Real News is an independent, viewer-supported, radical media network. Help us continue producing ‘Edge of Sports with Dave Zirin’ by following us and making a small donation: Donate to TRNN: Sign up for our newsletter: Like us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: #EdgeOfSports #EdgeOfSportsTV #therealnewsnetwork