The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer

· A fascinating look at Middle Eastern and North African football, a key battleground for political control, social justice, identity and gender rights.
Football evokes deep-seated passions and offers unique insight into the region
· Examples include clandestine Saudi women football clubs, political demonstrations at Algerian matches, Somali child solders turned soccer stars and Iranian women who disguise themselves as men to watch matches.

Acknowledgements

A Historical Timeline

Introduction

1. Bearing the Scars of Battle

2. The Battle for Greater Freedom

Scoring political goals

The stadium: soccer’s grunt school

Upholding dignity, breaking the barrier of fear

Soccer: a barometer of Morsi’s political fortune

3. Islamists Battle over Soccer

Soccer v. jihad

Islam v. Islam

4. From Struggling for Nationhood to Battling for Change

Bridging divides

Playing for nationhood

Sectarianism trumps soccer

Controlling soccer is mastering politics

5. Shattering taboos

(West) Asian football: a cesspool of government interference, struggles for power, corruption and greed

Epilogue

Notes