James Montague
@jamespiotr.bsky.social
Journalist and father to a super intelligent alien queen. Author of five books: Engulfed, 1312, The Billionaires Club, Thirty One Nil, When Friday Comes. Co-founder of Delayed Gratification. https://linktr.ee/jamespiotr
Pinned
James Montague
@jamespiotr.bsky.social
· Mar 27
Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport, and the World : Montague, James: Amazon.co.uk: Books
Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport, and the World : Montague, James: Amazon.co.uk: Books
www.amazon.co.uk
My new book “Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport, and the World” is out today!
www.amazon.co.uk/Engulfed-Sau...
www.amazon.co.uk/Engulfed-Sau...
Reposted by James Montague
Mijn interview met de vermaarde voetbaljournalist @jamespiotr.bsky.social. We spraken o.a. over zijn nieuwe boek "Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport, and the World". Het volledige interview verschijnt komende maand in @panenkanl.bsky.social. www.indehekken.net/interview-me...
Interview met voetbaljournalist James Montague
De Engelse voetbaljournalist James Montague schrijft over voetbal, politiek en samenleving. Hij is de auteur van bestsellers als When Friday Comes: Football Re
www.indehekken.net
August 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Mijn interview met de vermaarde voetbaljournalist @jamespiotr.bsky.social. We spraken o.a. over zijn nieuwe boek "Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport, and the World". Het volledige interview verschijnt komende maand in @panenkanl.bsky.social. www.indehekken.net/interview-me...
Reposted by James Montague
Crystal Palace officially appeal to CAS pushing to be reinstated into Europa League at the expense of either Nottingham Forest (who were bumped up to replace them by UEFA) or John Textor’s other team, Lyon.
July 22, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Crystal Palace officially appeal to CAS pushing to be reinstated into Europa League at the expense of either Nottingham Forest (who were bumped up to replace them by UEFA) or John Textor’s other team, Lyon.
Reposted by James Montague
Also includes Saudi international & Al Hilal opinions inc fans, Engulfed author @jamespiotr.bsky.social “everyone has their price”, analysis of Trump/US geo-political relations, @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social on Middle East instability impact & much more
pod.fo/e/2f6765
pod.fo/e/2f6765
The Athletic FC Podcast: At what cost? Saudi Arabia and soccer
There's been two football tournaments in the United States this summer, the Club World Cup and the Gold Cup. Both with an ostensible Saudi feel, all part of grand plan to invest heavily in sport ba...
pod.fo
July 13, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Also includes Saudi international & Al Hilal opinions inc fans, Engulfed author @jamespiotr.bsky.social “everyone has their price”, analysis of Trump/US geo-political relations, @kristianulrichsen.bsky.social on Middle East instability impact & much more
pod.fo/e/2f6765
pod.fo/e/2f6765
Reposted by James Montague
Thanks to both the @esportsworldcup.bsky.social and @jamespiotr.bsky.social for contributing to this week’s Memo, which I think is well worth a read
Is the Esports World Cup in Riyadh a serious tournament or soft power play?
This week’s VGIM argues it is both - which is exactly why it’s such a problem for the industry to grapple with.
Read on below 👇
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/the-esport...
This week’s VGIM argues it is both - which is exactly why it’s such a problem for the industry to grapple with.
Read on below 👇
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com/p/the-esport...
The Esports World Cup: serious tournament or soft power play?, 19/06/2025
A little from Column A, a little from Column B
www.videogamesindustrymemo.com
June 19, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Thanks to both the @esportsworldcup.bsky.social and @jamespiotr.bsky.social for contributing to this week’s Memo, which I think is well worth a read
Reposted by James Montague
Very exciting to get the first hard copy of MORE THAN A SHIRT: HOW FOOTBALL SHIRTS EXPLAIN GLOBAL POLITICS, MONEY AND POWER. Out June 19!
May 29, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Very exciting to get the first hard copy of MORE THAN A SHIRT: HOW FOOTBALL SHIRTS EXPLAIN GLOBAL POLITICS, MONEY AND POWER. Out June 19!
Reposted by James Montague
Nazis especially visible in my part of Berlin at the moment. Shaven heads and Helly Hansen tracksuit tops (HH for Heil Hitler); Ellesse tracksuit tops (worn so they can show off the SS symbol). It’s wild how in some German towns this is as natural a part of youth culture as hip-hop is in the US.
June 11, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Nazis especially visible in my part of Berlin at the moment. Shaven heads and Helly Hansen tracksuit tops (HH for Heil Hitler); Ellesse tracksuit tops (worn so they can show off the SS symbol). It’s wild how in some German towns this is as natural a part of youth culture as hip-hop is in the US.
Reposted by James Montague
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...
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...
A letter from Philippe Auclair - josimarfootball.com
The reality we at Josimar face is stark. Should we fail to raise € 50k by 1 July, the world's only investigative media dedicated solely to football will cease to exist.
josimarfootball.com
June 3, 2025 at 11:59 AM
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...
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...
Reposted by James Montague
This is an extract from my new book “Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport, and the World”, out now with @blinkbooks.bsky.social
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1785...
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1785...
Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport, and the World : Montague, James: Amazon.co.uk: Books
Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport, and the World : Montague, James: Amazon.co.uk: Books
www.amazon.co.uk
May 18, 2025 at 10:12 AM
This is an extract from my new book “Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport, and the World”, out now with @blinkbooks.bsky.social
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1785...
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1785...
Last yr I turned on the TV in my Riyadh hotel. A Saudi 3rd div game was on & a team called NEOM was playing. It sparked a journey that uncovered a plan to build the biggest club in the world from scratch.
An extract from my book “Engulfed”: @theathletic.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...
An extract from my book “Engulfed”: @theathletic.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...
Visiting NEOM, the new Saudi superclub built to rule all others before the 2034 World Cup
James Montague visited the kingdom to find out more about a club being geared up to take on the world
www.nytimes.com
May 18, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Last yr I turned on the TV in my Riyadh hotel. A Saudi 3rd div game was on & a team called NEOM was playing. It sparked a journey that uncovered a plan to build the biggest club in the world from scratch.
An extract from my book “Engulfed”: @theathletic.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...
An extract from my book “Engulfed”: @theathletic.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...
Reposted by James Montague
NEW with @simonkuper.bsky.social:
The prevailing narrative around increased injuries and player workload in elite football is wrong.
Players don’t play any more football than in the past. What has changed is a sharp rise in intensity of play.
Not more minutes, but each minute exerts more load.
The prevailing narrative around increased injuries and player workload in elite football is wrong.
Players don’t play any more football than in the past. What has changed is a sharp rise in intensity of play.
Not more minutes, but each minute exerts more load.
May 15, 2025 at 12:26 PM
NEW with @simonkuper.bsky.social:
The prevailing narrative around increased injuries and player workload in elite football is wrong.
Players don’t play any more football than in the past. What has changed is a sharp rise in intensity of play.
Not more minutes, but each minute exerts more load.
The prevailing narrative around increased injuries and player workload in elite football is wrong.
Players don’t play any more football than in the past. What has changed is a sharp rise in intensity of play.
Not more minutes, but each minute exerts more load.
Reposted by James Montague
Nominative determinism hard at work on this one.
May 9, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Nominative determinism hard at work on this one.
Reposted by James Montague
It's lunchtime and we have already been kicked out of the FIFA hotel.
Meanwhile, 5000 security personnel, including the army and tanks, have been deployed in Asunción to safeguard the 'football family'.
All totally normal.
Meanwhile, 5000 security personnel, including the army and tanks, have been deployed in Asunción to safeguard the 'football family'.
All totally normal.
May 13, 2025 at 4:47 PM
It's lunchtime and we have already been kicked out of the FIFA hotel.
Meanwhile, 5000 security personnel, including the army and tanks, have been deployed in Asunción to safeguard the 'football family'.
All totally normal.
Meanwhile, 5000 security personnel, including the army and tanks, have been deployed in Asunción to safeguard the 'football family'.
All totally normal.
Reposted by James Montague
Leon’s appeal against being booted out of Club World Cup for having same owners as Pachuca has failed. So FIFA’s plan for Club America to play off against LA FC will now determine 32nd team. That place should be LA’s but Club America is popular and FIFA needs to shift tickets to the meritocratic CWC
May 6, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Leon’s appeal against being booted out of Club World Cup for having same owners as Pachuca has failed. So FIFA’s plan for Club America to play off against LA FC will now determine 32nd team. That place should be LA’s but Club America is popular and FIFA needs to shift tickets to the meritocratic CWC
Reposted by James Montague
Happening in Turkey: Saturday morning wave of police operations against politicians and officials, tens of people have been detained in Istanbul, Ankara and Tekirdağ in Western Turkey tr.euronews.com/2025/04/26/i...
İBB'ye yeni operasyon: İSKİ Genel Müdürü dahil 47 kişi gözaltında
Polis ekipleri sabah saatlerinde İstanbul, Ankara ve Tekirdağ'da çok sayıda adrese eş zamanlı baskınlar düzenledi. İBB'de üst düzey yöneticilerin de aralarında bulunduğu gözaltı kararı verilen 53 kişi...
tr.euronews.com
April 26, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Happening in Turkey: Saturday morning wave of police operations against politicians and officials, tens of people have been detained in Istanbul, Ankara and Tekirdağ in Western Turkey tr.euronews.com/2025/04/26/i...
Reposted by James Montague
NEW: In the latest episode of the YouTube series I host, @lhn.bsky.social joins me to get into the nitty gritty of surveillance against protesters and steps you can take to protect yourself: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL34...
How Governments Spy On Protestors—And How To Avoid It | Incognito Mode | WIRED
YouTube video by WIRED
www.youtube.com
April 16, 2025 at 4:37 PM
NEW: In the latest episode of the YouTube series I host, @lhn.bsky.social joins me to get into the nitty gritty of surveillance against protesters and steps you can take to protect yourself: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL34...
Reposted by James Montague
Litt lavbluss her for tiden (noe jeg kommer tilbake til), men jeg har i hvert fall lest en bok, som jeg anbefaler på det sterkeste. Den er det @jamespiotr.bsky.social som har før til pennen. idrettspolitikk.no/2025/04/15/s...
«Slukt av Saudi-Arabia» - Idrettspolitikk
BOKANMELDELSE: Den anerkjente og prisvinnende journalisten James Montague har skrevet en svært god og viktige bok om Saudi-Arabias erobring av idretten. Den er opplysende skremmende og gir et unikt in...
idrettspolitikk.no
April 15, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Litt lavbluss her for tiden (noe jeg kommer tilbake til), men jeg har i hvert fall lest en bok, som jeg anbefaler på det sterkeste. Den er det @jamespiotr.bsky.social som har før til pennen. idrettspolitikk.no/2025/04/15/s...
Reposted by James Montague
Late to this, but glad to see @jamespiotr.bsky.social fighting the good fight, explaining the why & how of Saudi money in sport. (note: it's a source of unending wonder to me that in 2025 it's genuinely necessary to explain wahhabism in a sports podcast). www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AMa...
Why Saudi Arabia is buying sport
YouTube video by Tifo Podcast
www.youtube.com
April 13, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Late to this, but glad to see @jamespiotr.bsky.social fighting the good fight, explaining the why & how of Saudi money in sport. (note: it's a source of unending wonder to me that in 2025 it's genuinely necessary to explain wahhabism in a sports podcast). www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AMa...
Reposted by James Montague
The Masters are on, but there's a hidden contest: LIV Golf v the PGA Tour.
Here's a video from my new book for Tifo Sports, about the Saudi golf takeover & the resulting uncivil war.
Feat: the PIF, McIlroy, Mickelson going rogue, Woods, a $850m deal plus Donald Trump.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3wh8...
Here's a video from my new book for Tifo Sports, about the Saudi golf takeover & the resulting uncivil war.
Feat: the PIF, McIlroy, Mickelson going rogue, Woods, a $850m deal plus Donald Trump.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3wh8...
How Saudi Arabia Bought Golf
YouTube video by Tifo Sports by The Athletic
m.youtube.com
April 11, 2025 at 7:48 AM
The Masters are on, but there's a hidden contest: LIV Golf v the PGA Tour.
Here's a video from my new book for Tifo Sports, about the Saudi golf takeover & the resulting uncivil war.
Feat: the PIF, McIlroy, Mickelson going rogue, Woods, a $850m deal plus Donald Trump.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3wh8...
Here's a video from my new book for Tifo Sports, about the Saudi golf takeover & the resulting uncivil war.
Feat: the PIF, McIlroy, Mickelson going rogue, Woods, a $850m deal plus Donald Trump.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3wh8...
The Masters are on, but there's a hidden contest: LIV Golf v the PGA Tour.
Here's a video from my new book for Tifo Sports, about the Saudi golf takeover & the resulting uncivil war.
Feat: the PIF, McIlroy, Mickelson going rogue, Woods, a $850m deal plus Donald Trump.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3wh8...
Here's a video from my new book for Tifo Sports, about the Saudi golf takeover & the resulting uncivil war.
Feat: the PIF, McIlroy, Mickelson going rogue, Woods, a $850m deal plus Donald Trump.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3wh8...
How Saudi Arabia Bought Golf
YouTube video by Tifo Sports by The Athletic
m.youtube.com
April 11, 2025 at 7:48 AM
The Masters are on, but there's a hidden contest: LIV Golf v the PGA Tour.
Here's a video from my new book for Tifo Sports, about the Saudi golf takeover & the resulting uncivil war.
Feat: the PIF, McIlroy, Mickelson going rogue, Woods, a $850m deal plus Donald Trump.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3wh8...
Here's a video from my new book for Tifo Sports, about the Saudi golf takeover & the resulting uncivil war.
Feat: the PIF, McIlroy, Mickelson going rogue, Woods, a $850m deal plus Donald Trump.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3wh8...
Reposted by James Montague
@jamespiotr.bsky.social gives unique insights on the history of Saudi football, the Vision 2030 project, and how Newcastle United's takeover fits into the larger picture.
shows.acast.com/it-was-what-...
shows.acast.com/it-was-what-...
Did Saudi Arabia Buy Sport? Soft Power, Newcastle and Jimmy Hill! | It Was What It Was : The Football History Podcast
The football history podcast, brought to you by The Overlap
shows.acast.com
April 10, 2025 at 12:04 PM
@jamespiotr.bsky.social gives unique insights on the history of Saudi football, the Vision 2030 project, and how Newcastle United's takeover fits into the larger picture.
shows.acast.com/it-was-what-...
shows.acast.com/it-was-what-...
Reposted by James Montague
Another very enjoyable visit to @bookcornershop.bsky.social in Saltburn. Looking forward to reading these two new books from @danielgraywriter.bsky.social and @jamespiotr.bsky.social
April 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Another very enjoyable visit to @bookcornershop.bsky.social in Saltburn. Looking forward to reading these two new books from @danielgraywriter.bsky.social and @jamespiotr.bsky.social
Reposted by James Montague
📰Sunday extras:
"I Am the Turkish President’s Main Challenger. I Was Arrested." by @ekrem-imamoglu.bsky.social. [1/10]
"I Am the Turkish President’s Main Challenger. I Was Arrested." by @ekrem-imamoglu.bsky.social. [1/10]
Opinion | I am Erdogan’s Main Challenger in Turkey. I Was Arrested.
President Erdogan of Turkey has jailed me because he knows he cannot beat me in an election.
www.nytimes.com
March 30, 2025 at 6:14 AM
📰Sunday extras:
"I Am the Turkish President’s Main Challenger. I Was Arrested." by @ekrem-imamoglu.bsky.social. [1/10]
"I Am the Turkish President’s Main Challenger. I Was Arrested." by @ekrem-imamoglu.bsky.social. [1/10]
Reposted by James Montague
James Montague is back to discuss his new book about the astonishing scale and scope of Saudi Arabia’s sports investment and the unlikely rise to power of its instigator, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
@jamespiotr.bsky.social
secondcaptains.com/2025/03/28/e...
@jamespiotr.bsky.social
secondcaptains.com/2025/03/28/e...
March 28, 2025 at 1:52 PM
James Montague is back to discuss his new book about the astonishing scale and scope of Saudi Arabia’s sports investment and the unlikely rise to power of its instigator, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
@jamespiotr.bsky.social
secondcaptains.com/2025/03/28/e...
@jamespiotr.bsky.social
secondcaptains.com/2025/03/28/e...
Reposted by James Montague
The arrested Mayor of Istanbul's lawyer has now also been detained by police
March 28, 2025 at 11:42 AM
The arrested Mayor of Istanbul's lawyer has now also been detained by police
Always love going on Football weekly, this time to talk about my new book Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport and the Word…
Here’s a @theguardian.com football weekly
@will-unwin.bsky.social @philippeauclair.bsky.social @robyniocowen.bsky.social and @jamespiotr.bsky.social plus some Elis James
www.theguardian.com/football/aud...
@will-unwin.bsky.social @philippeauclair.bsky.social @robyniocowen.bsky.social and @jamespiotr.bsky.social plus some Elis James
www.theguardian.com/football/aud...
Wales leave it late and farewell to Trent Alexander-Arnold – Football Weekly Extra
Max Rushden is joined by Philippe Auclair, Robyn Cowen and Will Unwin to wrap up the international break
www.theguardian.com
March 28, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Always love going on Football weekly, this time to talk about my new book Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport and the Word…