Oscar Pistorius murdered Reeva Steenkamp. He was released on parole last year. He’s living in Pretoria. I went looking for him. www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

One thing that Liverpool as a city has never done brilliantly is ask itself what does football, culture and living here mean? With Airbnb wrapping itself around Anfield and The Winslow in danger of closing in Walton, the times they are a-changin'. www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

The Hillsborough Law is just about the best thing to happen to Britain in years. Hope everyone feels the same way when it reaches the House of Lords, a setting that will test whether the establishment really wants change. www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

FSG over and #out?

A song saluting Federico Chiesa’s decision to leave Juventus for Liverpool has become a staple of the Anfield songbook. To many, it is a harmless celebration of a cult hero. To others, it risks reopening the wounds caused at Heysel. @simonhughes1983.bsky.social on a potentially divisive chant.

The Premier League had a new redistribution deal rejected by the English Football League (EFL) shortly before the bill that ushered in a regulator was passed. Full story from @simonhughes1983.bsky.social ⬇️

RIP Diogo Jota www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...

The summer re-organisation at Tottenham is well underway. My story on the new set-up and why they're not looking for a new chief football officer. www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...

Football and politics: totally intertwined, as illustrated on Wed when Juventus players stood awkwardly in the Oval Office as President Trump discussed Israel, Iran and threat of war. Fifa president Gianni Infantino was there too of course, in the role of nodding dog www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Easy start for Xabi Alonso - he needs to build new team with all-new back 4, sort his coaching staff, manage the politics, lift the fans, and win the Club World Cup... www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Exclusive FIFA has decided not to show videos or signage which explicitly mention challenging racism or discrimination in US Club World Cup venues FIFA point to statutes - "politically neutral" - when asked if US political climate played part in decision www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Ahead of the Club World Cup, I travelled to South Africa to spend four days with Mamelodi Sundowns, the most successful team in the country. Did an audio documentary. pod.fo/e/2e427e

Miguel Cardoso smokes a cigar. Denis Onyango celebrates his 40th birthday. Grant Kekana paints his nails. Each of these facts are mildly related. This is how Mamelodi Sundowns prepared for the Club World Cup, a tournament you may have heard about. www.nytimes.com/athletic/640... l

The Athletic spent four days in the Mamelodi Sundowns camp before the they compete at the Club World Cup. The South African champions call themselves "The Brazilians” because of their colours but also the expectation to deliver attacking football. @simonhughes1983.bsky.social

Ahead of the Club World Cup, I went to South Africa to spend time with Mamelodi Sundowns. Lots of grumbling in Europe about more football this summer but the mood is different elsewhere. First of a three part series here. Audio documentary to follow. www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...

Farewell Ange Postecoglou. The most original, surprising and distinctive Tottenham manager I’ve covered. And the one to deliver Spurs’ greatest moment for a generation. Wrote this on his tenure and dismissal: www.nytimes.com/athletic/640...

A message from @philippeauclair.bsky.social The reality we at Josimar face is stark. Should we fail to raise 50 000 euro by 1 July, the world’s only investigative media dedicated solely to football will cease to exist. josimarfootball.com/2025/06/03/a...

British government faces inquiry into appointment of new independent football regulator chair. David Kogan likely to be interviewed, along with secretary of state, Lisa Nandy. www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...

Latest Walk On podcast and not the one we hoped to do. Very sombre in the aftermath of yesterday. Me, @jamespearcelfc.bsky.social and @simonhughes1983.bsky.social pod.fo/e/2db1e5

The authorities in charge of safety on Merseyside have serious questions to answer. Primarily, how the car that ploughed into so many people was allowed to tailgate an ambulance into a road that was supposed to be blocked off to non emergency vehicles. www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...

Liverpool fans had flocked to the city on Monday to celebrate their Premier League title success. But, at around 6pm on Water Street, the day descended into chaos. @simonhughes1983.bsky.social, @jamespearcelfc.bsky.social, @caoimhesport.bsky.social & @greggevans40.bsky.social

Liverpool won the league

My audio documentary about Liverpool's last trophy lift in 2020. I've spoken to the families of supporters who did not get to see it due to the very unusual period we were living in. The last month has triggered some painful memories. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...

Last night I witnessed the death of a banter era. My piece from Bilbao www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...

My piece from Ange Postecoglou's surreal night of vindication. www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...

Spoke to the families who lost loved ones before Liverpool lifted the title in 2020. The last month has been strange, conflicting period for them. www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

Would be very useful for everyone’s sake if impressions of the way things are and the way people feel aren’t taken from social media in absolute terms.

For most Liverpool fans, he will always be “Trent” and remembered as a key figure in the Jurgen Klopp revolution. Yet the fact is another club will benefit from what are likely to be his prime years. A place in Liverpool’s all-time pantheon may now prove beyond him. ✍️ @simonhughes1983.bsky.social

16 Nov 2024, shrapnel from Israel’s bombing of Beirut struck Celine Haidar, plunging the 19yo Lebanon star's dreams into oblivion. Piece w/ Celine on her journey 'from death to life'. 'Every day before bed I cry. Even my enemies, I don’t wish them this pain.' www.nytimes.com/athletic/631...

FULL ABOLITION NOW!

The day Liverpool won the league. At Anfield. In front of their people. www.nytimes.com/athletic/631...

🚨MONDAY POD!🚨 Join @acjimbo.bsky.social, @tomwfootball.bsky.social, @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social & Luis Miguel Echegaray: 🏆Liverpool's 20th title with @simonhughes1983.bsky.social 🏟️Man City win at Wembley 🦅So do Palace with Reuben Pinder! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Wrexham promoted again pod.fo/e/2cd7d9

The Walk On podcast is up pod.fo/e/2cd73b @jamespearcelfc.bsky.social and @simonhughes1983.bsky.social from the ground. Have a listen

In April 1986, FC Stroitel Pripyat were preparing to move into a new stadium — then a reactor at the nearby nuclear plant exploded, and the town was evacuated. On the 39th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, @rsooty73.bsky.social recalls his visit to the abandoned arena.

Turki Al-Sheikh has risen from obscurity to become the most powerful man in boxing. He operates at the heart of Saudi Arabia's Royal Court and will play a key role in the planning of the 2034 World Cup. But who is he really? @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social spent six months finding out.

It's the latest Walk On pod. We're a happy bunch, me @simonhughes1983.bsky.social and @adjones-journo.bsky.social Have a listen pod.fo/e/2cb2d7

Virgil van Dijk is the most complete defender in Liverpool’s history and their most important modern signing. Yet his reputation extends far beyond Merseyside. As he signs a new contract, it is time to recognise him as a Premier League legend. @simonhughes1983.bsky.social

Well I thought This City is Ours was great.

It took almost a year for Mohamed Salah to sign a new Liverpool contract - this is the inside story: 🔺 Why Salah’s camp had concerns last autumn 🔺 What ruled out PSG & Saudi 🔺 Why ‘process’ took so long 🔺 Richard Hughes’ role & importance of Arne Slot 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/626...

Salah stays. I've spent a fair few months following developments, speaking to people and hiving away the things I've been told. LONG READ. www.nytimes.com/athletic/626...

The Boyzone episode. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...

“The ‘Siamese stadium’ was a media tag. It certainly wasn’t a term that we used." In 2010, a proposal was made to build a conjoined stadium in Stanley Park for both Everton and Liverpool. What might have been... ✍️ @simonhughes1983.bsky.social 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...

Pre derby pod with me @jamespearcelfc.bsky.social and @simonhughes1983.bsky.social pod.fo/e/2c0f36

In 2010, a shadowy group proposed Liverpool and Everton build a “Siamese stadium” (not their description). About that… www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...

🚨EXCLUSIVE: The mysterious Person X at the heart of the Premier League's legal battle with Manchester City is Jaber Mohamed — who was, at the time, a key aide to Abu Dhabi's ruler MBZ. www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

Trent Alexander-Arnold chat. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/w...

Anthony Barry, the future of English coaching? www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

We are disappointed but not surprised that Meta has used millions of pirated books to develop its AI systems. As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting. But what can authors do? Read here: societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...

I interviewed Bill Shankly! Well, I interviewed Peter Mullan, who is playing Bill Shankly in the stage production of Red or Dead at the Royal Court. Go and see it! www.nytimes.com/athletic/620...