Episode 2480: Pique’s Pride And Pace, Anti Semitism In Brooklyn, FIFA Says Shut Up And Dribble

In advance of the World Cup in Qatar FIFA have written to every FA to tell them to stick to the football and stop complaining about the hosts. We discuss who might have asked Infantino to say this, whether it will silence the players, fans and associations involved and what issues Shay “glasshouse” Given has had with human rights in the UK and Ireland over the last few centuries.

Gerard Pique has announced his retirement, saving his club Barcelona 45 million in the process, which is a lot less than he has cost his team in Champions League payments with his awful defending this season. Ken discusses Pique’s pace, place, pride and economic self interest.

NBA star Kyrie Irving, who was tipped for Hall of Fame inclusion, has a long history of “doing his own research” including publicly declaring that the Earth is flat and sharing posts from Alex Jones and anti-vaccination conspiracy theorists on his social media account. He also missed a large portion of the Nets’ games last season due to not meeting New York City’s vaccination requirements for indoor arenas.

Last week Irving caused outrage when he tweeted a link to an antisemitic film which has led to a series of vague responses from Irving, a belated apology and now a suspension. He also happens to play for the one of the most dysfunctional franchises in American sports, the star studded Brooklyn Nets, who have great players, very few wins, have just sacked their coach Steve Nash and are rumoured to be replacing Nash with another coach who himself has been suspended for a whole season.

©INPHO/Gary Carr

Plus there’s table service in the Aviva stadium, no hitters and some good clean fun with Pat Kenny.

Click the large image at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all and to listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, Richie Sadlier’s Player’s Chair, The Politics Podcast, The “I’ll Tell You Who Wrote It” Book Club and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, like our recent international series  ‘Where Is George Gibney?’.

In September, 22-year old Mahsa Amini was killed in police custody in Tehran after being arrested for wearing her hijab ‘loosely’.

?? How significant a moment is this for Iran?

?? How does Iran’s appearance at the 2022 World Cup tie into all of this? https://t.co/wTputEJK0W pic.twitter.com/BLWjalZHuF

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) November 3, 2022