The World Cup referee from Somalia was picked by FIFA 2 months ago and still could not enter the U.S. with a valid visa. This is so farcical from a World Cup host and has potential to get even worse for the 2028 LA Olympics when bona fide people from every country are coming.

🚨 Exclusive 🚨 On the day it finally went live, regulators in several countries immediately moved to block ADI Predictstreet, Fifa’s $150m prediction market sponsor, for operating illegally. (Free to read for 24 hours, then paywalled.) josimarfootball.com/2026/06/08/f...

I was thinking exactly the same thing today. And it’s why this World Cup could be remembered as a horror show by contrast. Russia was a brilliant, welcoming experience. The USA will not be. Because they don’t care.

Private credit and football. Part I. The chaotic implosion of John Textor’s Eagle Football Group is a warning sign of the growing dangers of the sport’s infiltration by the shadowy world of private credit. By @pbsportswriter.bsky.social. josimarfootball.com/2026/06/04/j...

In a June 3 filing in USA v Josh Wander, the DOJ cites “a former 777 Partners analyst who may be a witness at trial” who they claim has “significant firsthand knowledge of other criminal acts by the defendant, including the defendant’s frequent drug use during the conduct charged in the indictment.”

Part I of the dossier, by @pbsportswriter.bsky.social, can be read here.

New! Ny! Eagle Football’s collapse exposes the systemic risks of private credit in European football. Is Chelsea next in line? By @the-esk.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2026/06/05/p...

New! Ny! The chaotic implosion of John Textor’s Eagle Football Group is a warning sign of the growing dangers of the sport’s infiltration by the shadowy world of private credit. By @pbsportswriter.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2026/06/04/j...

John Textor vs Private Credit New, for @josimarfootball.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2026/06/04/j...

John Textor vs Private Credit New, for @josimarfootball.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2026/06/04/j...

Reform UK expels London election candidates on eve of poll after London Centric uncovers them as ex-BNP members. www.londoncentric.media/p/reform-lon...

Argentina fans have provided dramatic backdrops to many FIFA World Cups. Now they find that passion comes at a cost as they are hit harder than most by FIFA’s dynamic ticket prices. “They are making business from our passion.” Our story from Buenos Aires www.nytimes.com/2026/05/06/w...

Sharks don’t need prospects unless they see a transformational D in this draft. I see trades coming, with or without whoever they pick being included.

Where's the money from your exorbitant World Cup tickets going? To FIFA's $14 billion in revenue. Yes, friends in Europe, there's plenty of anger here in the U.S., too. How bad will the scars from this summer be in a country whose money FIFA deeply covets? www.inquirer.com/soccer/world...

Everton and Roma owner Dan Friedkin consortium misses out to Clearlake co-founder José E. Feliciano (Chelsea) and his wife in big bid for Padres according to WSJ.

777 Partners funnelled US insurance policyholders funds into its football clubs. Now, one of the insurance companies they tapped could be sold to Inter Milan owners Oaktree. Will the deal go through? josimarfootball.com/2026/04/08/e...

777 Partners funnelled US insurance policyholders funds into its football clubs. Now, one of the insurance companies they tapped could be sold to Inter Milan owners Oaktree. Will the deal go through? josimarfootball.com/2026/04/08/e...

New! Ny! The fall-out from the demise of 777 Partners has resulted in a fire sale of assets by A-CAP, and a potential bail-out by Internazionale Milano owners Oaktree. By @pbsportswriter.bsky.social and @philippeauclair.bsky.social. josimarfootball.com/2026/04/08/e...

They are, and always will be, “Trump’s team”

That’s going to haunt MacKinnon for the rest of his life - he’ll be remembered as a generational talent but not an all-time great

Amazing day of ice hockey. Absolutely nailbiting drama all day long. This is what the Olympics is all about. And this is the medal they all care about most. Curling? Ice dance? Doing tricks on a snowboard? Nah. Gimme a puck drop in a sport millions are glued to any day thank you very much 👊

Bull's eye by @pbsportswriter.bsky.social for @playthegame-org.bsky.social. In private, many football and finance executives will agree that a disaster is brewing. But no-one dares speak out - yet - for fear of precipitating a crisis which will come to pass anyway.

Is football at the frontline of the next financial crisis? Private Equity firms are using complex offshore arrangements to channel insurance money into football. This Bermuda Triangle strategy ended badly for 777 Partners, but could be a preview of the future. www.playthegame.org/news/investm...

Is football at the frontline of the next financial crisis? Private Equity firms are using complex offshore arrangements to channel insurance money into football. This Bermuda Triangle strategy ended badly for 777 Partners, but could be a preview of the future. www.playthegame.org/news/investm...

Be honest. You thought the Bermuda Triangle was just about ships going missing at sea and planes going down, didn’t you? Well, there are some new risks associated with that phrase now. Piece for the National Law Review natlawreview.com/article/berm...

Be honest. You thought the Bermuda Triangle was just about ships going missing at sea and planes going down, didn’t you? Well, there are some new risks associated with that phrase now. Piece for the National Law Review natlawreview.com/article/berm...

A stellar (and difficult) year for @josimarfootball.bsky.social. Here is some of our best reporting. We started in Saudi Arabia, host of the 2034 World Cup, and labour abuse of migrant workers. With @aselliaas.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2025/01/06/t...

New. Josh Wander of 777 Partners has been indicted by the DOJ, but what does this mean for A-CAP, their biggest creditor, which has seized most of their assets, football clubs included, and remains accused of being the “puppeteer” pulling their strings? josimarfootball.com/2025/12/04/t...

Please allow @josimarfootball.bsky.social, @pbsportswriter.bsky.social and myself a minute of self-congratulation. We wrote a total of 39 articles on 777 Partners' house of cards. It was time well spent. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/b...

Why are migrant workers in Qatar being recruited as cannon-fodder for Russia in Ukraine, and is labour surplus from the 2022 World Cup responsible? Brilliant reporting from @samindrakunti.bsky.social and @bobbyperu.bsky.social in @josimarfootball.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2025/09/25/t...

Absolutely top tier financial investigation into sports chicanery from @pablo.show. no notes. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Owz...

New. Giacomo Angelini may be the new owner of Standard de Liège but his ‘takeover’ was funded entirely by A-CAP. How is this possible, and what does it mean for the Pro League club? By @pbsportswriter.bsky.social and @philippeauclair.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2025/09/03/s...

How have I only just discovered Blue Eye Samurai? It’s a work of art

Two warring Russian oligarchs, and a mystery which takes us from London to Cyprus, Miami, and Georgia via private investigators, saunas and strip clubs, involving a trio of litigation funders including… 777 Partners. For Byline Times with Will Neal bylinetimes.com/2025/07/30/m...

Two warring Russian oligarchs, and a mystery which takes us from London to Cyprus, Miami, and Georgia via private investigators, saunas and strip clubs, involving a trio of litigation funders including… 777 Partners. For Byline Times with Will Neal bylinetimes.com/2025/07/30/m...

Stanley Cup finals - & in fact NHL playoffs in general - have been the best sport on TV all year. And there are Finns everywhere! 🇫🇮🏒🥅

Looking forward to getting stuck into this 💙

The Telegraph were "deceived" by someone who claimed to be called Al, married to Ali, have three children called Ali, Barry and Harry, wasn't old enough for his claimed years of work and life experience and who apparently had a gardener who came 24 times a year for a total annual cost of £230.

Text gemeinsam mit @pbsportswriter.bsky.social zur Versteigerung sowie zum Aufstieg und Zusammenbruch von 777. Paul berichtete für Josimar mit @philippeauclair.bsky.social als erstes über die Auktion: www.sportschau.de/fussball/bun...

New: A-CAP is foreclosing on a loan to 777 Partners and forcing the sale at auction tomorrow of ALL its football clubs. But A-CAP’s equity in Everton is not included. With @philippeauclair.bsky.social for @josimarfootball.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2025/06/05/c...

Astonishing development in the 777 Partners saga. *All* of their football assets, including stakes in Standard, Vasco, Genoa, Sevilla, Hertha and Red Star, will be *auctioned* tomorrow. By @pbsportswriter.bsky.social and I for @josimarfootball.bsky.social. josimarfootball.com/2025/06/05/c...

New: A-CAP is foreclosing on a loan to 777 Partners and forcing the sale at auction tomorrow of ALL its football clubs. But A-CAP’s equity in Everton is not included. With @philippeauclair.bsky.social for @josimarfootball.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2025/06/05/c...

Can’t think of a better manager than Moyes to guide Everton through their stadium move. His experience at West Ham has taught him a lot. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba...

Can’t think of a better manager than Moyes to guide Everton through their stadium move. His experience at West Ham has taught him a lot. www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba...

UPDATE: In a new legal filing, Leadenhall has now accused 777/A-CAP of breaching their injunction re the Everton deal

UPDATE: In a new legal filing, Leadenhall has now accused 777/A-CAP of breaching their injunction re the Everton deal

New. 777 Partners still exists, though their website has gone dark and a former employee has testified under oath accusing them of “stealing” 350 million dollars. By @philippeauclair.bsky.social and @pbsportswriter.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2025/05/02/u...

Remember 777 Partners? This is where the former owners of Standard, Genoa, Vasco, Red Star and Hertha (and near-owners of Everton FC) are now - in a twilight zone of their own making. By @pbsportswriter.bsky.social and myself for @josimarfootball.bsky.social. josimarfootball.com/2025/05/02/u...

Today’s the day - Good luck Mr Goodge (who’s running the equivalent of two marathons a day for the next 35 days…) “Run Across Australia: The Record” 👀

“Crummy weather… panic… toxicity…” Katie Zaferes on not sounding sexy, what it’s like going from world champion to coach, and what her biggest challenge is now #USAT #NorthCarolina www.tri247.com/triathlon-ne...