In this episode, Rob Harris (@RobHarris), along with Markus Fjortoft (@MarkusFjortoft) and Ciaran McKenna (@CiaranMcKenna8) , explore the intricacies and complexities of politics within sports. We discuss player activism on social issues, managers’ complicity or non-complicity with their club’s owners, the ethics surrounding the location of sporting events; including the Russia and Qatar World Cups, the Saudi Arabia F1 Grand Prix, and the Beijing Winter Olympics, as well as comparing the difference between politicians engaging with ‘unsavoury’ states with sporting federations. We also discuss Manchester City’s violations of FIFA’s Financial Fair Play rules, the capability of sports regulatory bodies to hold them accountable, whether they are truly independent, and touching on the future of football club ownership and whether viable alternatives exist. Moreover, we ask Rob how he navigates his own political and moral beliefs while reporting on controversial matters and how he asks the hard questions while maintaining journalistic integrity and respect within the community. 

Rob Harris is a British sports journalist and Global Sports Correspondant for the Associated Press. Rob’s reporting focuses on the intersection of politics and sports. Notable work includes his coverage of the 2015 FIFA arrests in Zurich, as well as his dogged reporting of what lies behind the success of Man City; from the FIFA FFP violations to the human rights abuses of the club’s owner and deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mansour. Rob regularly appears on MSNBC, BBC, and Sky News.

Follow BroPod on Twitter (@BroPod1) and Facebook. Feel free to subscribe and review our podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and other outlets. #beother