Bodø/Glimt stun Inter and Newcastle see off Qarabag – Football Weekly

Summary

Football Weekly – Bodø/Glimt Stun Inter and Newcastle See Off Qarabag

Date: February 25, 2026
Host: Max Rushden
Panel: Barry Glendenning, Nicky Bandini, Sam (surname not specified), Lars Sivertsen (voice note), others
Produced by: The Guardian

---

Episode Overview

This episode of Football Weekly dives into a historic Champions League night — Bodø/Glimt’s stunning elimination of Inter Milan at the San Siro, marking what many call the greatest night in Norwegian football. The panel also covers Newcastle's routine progression past Qarabag, the other Champions League ties including Atlético vs Brugge, Leverkusen’s quiet progress, Premier League and Championship talking points, quirky stories (sprinklers in the rain, Snoop Dogg at Swansea), and the ongoing issue of violence in Mexico ahead of the World Cup.

---

Bodø/Glimt’s Sensational Upset At The San Siro

Segment: 01:31–17:57

The Match

• Result: Inter Milan 1–2 Bodø/Glimt (over two legs, a comprehensive upset).
• Bodø/Glimt, a modestly funded team from a Norwegian town of just 50,000, cracked the European elite by knocking out last year’s Champions League finalists and current Serie A leaders.

Lars Sivertsen’s Voice Note [01:57]

• “This team has already done the impossible more than once. Maybe we need to reevaluate what is and isn't possible. … It’s just a remarkable achievement. Incredible for every player on the pitch, for every citizen of Bodø—all of which would comfortably fit into the San Siro. … It matters that goals like this have made the idea of a ‘closed’ European league look ridiculous. That's why we care about this stuff.” (Lars, 01:57–05:13)

Key Points from Lars:

• Bodø/Glimt had to adapt—usually dominant in possession, but Inter dominated ball and territory (Esp. first half).
• Defensive resilience, tactical discipline (not luck): “They made an awful lot of that luck themselves.”
• This is an argument against the Super League idea—stories like this justify open competitions.
• “That’s what gives everything meaning ... That it’s still theoretically possible for a team from a town of 50,000 to knock out a rich team in the final two of the last three years.” (05:13)

Panel Reactions

• Barry Glendenning:
  • "They're not fluking their way through this tournament. They're playing really well." (05:41)
  • Highlights significant financial disparity: Internazionale's squad cost €666m vs. Bodø's €57m market value.
  • “It’s been billed as a fairy tale…but I wasn’t massively surprised.” (05:41)
• Nicky Bandini:
  • Bodø/Glimt are now used to these shocks (Atletico, Man City, Inter); team is comfortable, clinical, and adaptable.
  • “It’s astonishing how clinical they look going forward. They did against City, Atletico, Inter… every time they go forward they’re going to put it in the net.” (08:46)
• Sam:
  • Praises their attacking prowess, highlights the technical quality of their second goal: “…one of the better goals in the Champions League this season.” (08:49)
  • “They are now the story of the Champions League.” (09:34)

Key Analysis

• Tactical flexibility: Low-block, disciplined counter, ruthless when breaking.
• Not just a home-pitch anomaly — they excelled away (San Siro win).
• The panel stresses that future opponents will fear Bodø, not hope to draw them.

Notable Moment

• “I don’t think anyone will want to play Bodø in the next round… They’ve already battered City.” (Barry, 09:59)
• “That’s deranged.” (Max, 09:49, about still wanting to draw Bodø)

Inter’s Meltdown & Broader Italian Woes

• Akanji’s howler for Bodø’s opener, comical finger-pointing post-error.
• Italian clubs on course for “one of the worst campaigns in modern Champions League history.” (11:35–12:46, Nicky).
• "The boring reality is… [Italian teams] aren’t as rich." (Nicky, 12:44)
• Inter’s tactical identity in flux since Simone Inzaghi’s departure, struggle to break down disciplined opponents.
• “This is a club at a specific moment between chapters. I don’t know yet if Christian Chivu is the man to take them forward, and I think Inter don’t really either.” (Nicky, 16:17)

---

Newcastle 3–2 Qarabag (Aggregate)

Segment: 18:45–23:50

Tie Context

• Second leg a formality after Newcastle’s emphatic first-leg lead; two goals in first six minutes put the tie out of sight.

Talking Points

• Sam (Newcastle fan): “Job was done in the first leg. It was full there, though a few were leaving early—can’t blame them.” (20:33)
• Importance of squad rotation, player injuries and returning stars (Joelinton, Botman, Visser, Alex Murphy debut).
• Sandro Tonali’s full 90 seen as a risk: “I found it a bit odd that Tonali was still on; he’s central to Newcastle’s team.” (21:23)
• Positive: Advancing to Champions League last 16 for the first time ever in current format.

Notable Quote

• “They did the job they needed to do. The tide was over in the first leg.” (Sam, 20:33)

Voltamara’s Positioning Debate

• Wayne Rooney and Shearer critical of his deep positioning; Sam defends: “He is playing tactically where he’s been instructed to play ... it’s part of a midfield three.” (24:15)

---

Other Champions League Games

Segment: 25:15–28:35

Atlético Madrid 4–1 Club Brugge (7–4 agg.)

• Club Brugge very much in the tie until a key Jan Oblak save at 1–1 (25:32).
• Saúl becomes the first Atlético player to score a Champions League knockout hat-trick. (26:58)
• Ademola Lookman thriving after a tricky transfer saga.
• “Atlético are a team capable of brilliance but lacking control.” (Nicky, 27:00)

Bayer Leverkusen 0–0 Olympiacos (Leverkusen progress)

• No panelist watched; consensus: Arsenal/Bayern would not fear them in the next round. (28:23)

---

Premier League: Everton 0–1 Manchester United

Segment: 32:01–39:19

Key Points

• Winner from Sesko, set up by a dynamic break from Mathias Cunha.
• United’s summer window hailed: “It’s looking like a really, really great summer window… Sesko’s starting to find the goal.” (Sam, 32:26)
• Michael Carrick praised for clear tactics and returning players to familiar roles.
• “It’s astonishing that it was that hard before.” (Nicky, 34:25)
• “This was a terrible, terrible game. It was won by the sole moment of quality.” (Barry, 34:37)
• Everton’s set-piece tactics lead to comical scenes at corners: “All the players surrounding and James Tarkovsky and Harry Maguire just sort of falling on the floor and then laughing about it.” (Max, 35:01)
• Debate about policing at corners and speculation about exclusion zones around goalkeepers.

---

Rule Controversies: Handball Law and VAR

Segment: 29:54–32:01

Dan Burn Handball (Newcastle v Qarabag)

• Given for “groundside” arm as he fell—panel agrees it’s absurd.
• “There is literally nowhere else Dan Byrne could have put his arm.” (Barry, 29:54)
• Detachment from reality noted: players stop complaining, refs just give it.

Broader Point

• IFAB not addressing the handball rule despite public outcry.
• “You're ruining football… and they don't even realize.” (Max, 31:16)

---

Championship & Lower Leagues

Segment: 39:19–44:12

Snoop Dogg at Swansea

• Snoop Dogg visits Swansea (now part-owner alongside Martha Stewart and Luka Modric), does pre-match lap, gives out towels.
• Crowd serenades him; coach jokes about tunnel “stinking of weed.”

Promotion/Relegation Update

• Middlesbrough and Leicester draw; Ipswich climbing; West Brom sack Ramsey after 44 days.
• Playoff and relegation battles intensify.

Non-League Shenanigans:

• Kings Lynn Town allegedly watering pitch in the rain leading to postponement, sparking investigation.
• “If you are deliberately… trying to avoid playing fixtures, I’m not on board with that at all.” (Sam, 49:05)

---

Societal Issues: Violence in Mexico Ahead of the World Cup

Segment: 44:12–47:19

Context

• Recent cartel violence and road blockades near World Cup venues, raising concerns about tournament safety.
• Political leaders claim no risk for visitors.

Panel Insights

• “FIFA [usually] imposes a temporary state of being on places it goes… But this time, it feels [it] may not have that level of grip.” (Nicky, 45:27)
• Drug cartels have vested interests in a smooth World Cup for business reasons, not chaos.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lars Sivertsen (on Bodø’s upset):
  “Maybe the concept itself, something being impossible just doesn't really apply here … this is the whole point of this tournament.” (01:57–05:13)
• Barry:
  “They’re not just a lovely story... They’re a good football team. So we’ve got to take them seriously.” (17:24)
• Nicky:
  “It’s astonishing how clinical they look going forward.” (08:46)
• On Inter’s struggles:
  “This is a club at a specific moment between chapters.” (16:17)
• On the VAR/handball farce:
  “You're ruining football ... and they don’t even realize.” (Max, 31:16)
• On Snoop Dogg at Swansea:
  “He did a pre-match lap … and saw his team come from behind.” (Barry, 41:24)
• On Kings Lynn’s sprinkler-gate:
  “If you’re a football club deliberately trying to avoid fixtures… not on board with that at all.” (Sam, 49:05)

---

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Bodø/Glimt – Inter Milan: 01:31–17:57
• Newcastle – Qarabag: 18:45–23:50
• Atlético – Brugge, Leverkusen – Olympiacos: 25:15–28:35
• Handball/VAR Debate: 29:54–32:01
• Everton – Manchester United: 32:01–39:19
• Championship, Snoop Dogg at Swansea: 39:19–44:12
• Mexico World Cup Violence: 44:12–47:19
• Lower League Oddball (Kings Lynn sprinklers): 47:40–49:41

---

Final Thoughts

A lively episode combining technical football analysis, strong opinions, and classic Football Weekly banter. The panel celebrates one of the all-time Champions League upsets, laments football’s governance foibles, and continues to find the absurdities and joys that make the sport special—from Norwegian miracles to Snoop Dogg at Swansea.

Transcript

[A]

This is the Guardian.

[B]

Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. And the latest in our series. The greatest night in Norwegian football history. Bodo glimpsed win at the San Siro and knock out the runaway Serie A leaders and last year's Champions league finalists Inter Milan. And over two legs. It was comprehensive, man. City Athletic are now intertwice. Genuinely. How far can they go? You've demanded a Lars voice note and he has delivered. We'll do the other Champions League games as Newcastle Athletian Leverkusen progress in the championship. Snoop Dogg sees his Swansea side rescuer point late on against Preston. We'll try to remember what happened during Manchester United's 10 win at Everton on Monday night. Discuss the violence in Mexico ahead of the World cup and the ethics of turning on your sprinklers when it's raining and then postponing a game because of a waterlogged pitch. All that plus your questions. And that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today. Joining us in the studio, Nikki Bandini. Welcome.

[C]

Morning.

[B]

Hello. Sam darling.

[A]

Hello. Max.

[B]

Nice to meet you.

[A]

Nice to meet you for the first time ever.

[B]

Nice person you appear to be in the flesh.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

How are you, Barry?

[D]

I'm great, thank you.

[B]

Yeah, you like this new fangled technology, don't you?

[D]

Very last supper vibe here.

[B]

Okay, who's gonna kill who, is the question. Let's start, shall we? Is that what happened in the last sub?

[D]

There was a betrayal, an act of treachery.

[B]

It's not Guardian religion.

[D]

If I kiss you on the cheek, meat pod, and you'll be afraid.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I'm voting for yourself, Barry. I think you're the traitor. Start then at the sano. Inter Milan 1. Bo Glimp 2. Carl says, is this the greatest result in Norwegian Champions League history since last week or the week before? Simon, imagine how good Bodo will be once they finish preseason. And Barry says, can we just have Lars? No offense to the others. I just want to hear Lars talk about Bodo for an hour. So insert a picture of Lars's face and a three minute voice note.

[E]

Hello, everyone. I'm going to record this late, but on a Tuesday in a state that one might describe as I believe the phrase is tired and emotional. It's hard to know where to start with Border glimt right now. But I did say earlier today that this team has already done the impossible more than once. And I guess that means that we need to reevaluate what we think is and isn't possible. Maybe the concept itself, something Being impossible just doesn't really apply here on the pure footballing side of things. I was so impressed with Border Glim today because the game didn't really go their way. This is a team that's used to having like 60% possession and to control games and pass the ball around and press teams and here we're Inter. They were all over them in the first half. In particular, they, they were putting crosses in from dangerous areas. But it made me think of a discussion you guys had on the pod a while back about what it means to deserve a result. Border Glim clearly had some luck tonight, but I think they made an awful lot of that luck themselves. Inter kept putting crosses in but Buddha Glim kept clearing them away and winning the second balls. The, the center halves did incredible work here. And if you look at the goal that really turns the tie, the one nil goal, yes, it comes from a goof from, from, from a kanji, but notice that Buddha didn't have three players closing him down and closing the, closing the passing angles for him. They had their moments here as Inter were, you know, had the best of the possession for a lot of the time. But when they went, when they were able to put people forward, they were, they were committed and they were brave and then they, they put players into good positions. It is just a remarkable achievement. It's incredible for every player on the pitch. It's incredible for every citizen of Buddha, of course, all of which would comfortably fit into the San Siro. In fact, it would look a little empty still, if you put all the people of Buddha in the stadium, it would look empty, much like what it looked like towards end of the game when the Italians had gone home. Anyway, I also have to say this result is such an extraordinary rebuttal to these sort of lazy, greedy, incompetent morons who believe that we need a closed European league. It's worth bringing up because there are still powerful forces in the sport who believe that the likes of Border Glim should not be allowed in this tournament, that the big team should not have to play teams like this. And it matters that ghouls like this have been made to just look ridiculous. And it's not going to happen every year because it's really hard. But this sort of thing is going to happen occasionally. And to me that's the whole point of this tournament, that it's still possible for a team from a town of 50,000 people to knock out a rich team that's been in the final for two of the last three Seasons. That's why we care about this stuff. That's why you go to support your team. Because however low down the pyramid you are, it's still theoretically possible. That's what gives everything meaning. So beyond Border limped as a club, I think this is a result that matters a lot for all of European football. This is a big claim but I'm going to stick with it. What a nice.

[B]

Thank you Lars. And it was worth getting Lars's opinion. And we talked about this before but you know Bodo's squad market value on Transfermarkt is 57 million euros. Their weekly wage bill is €140,000. There's no multi club ownership. There's no tax evading billionaire. There's no arms dealers. We don't think there's no nation state. It's just. It's sort of joyous this Barry. This is good for football as Lance said.

[D]

Yeah, it is great for football and it's a shame that it's such an unusual thing to happen, I suppose. But what's interesting about this is they're not fluking their way through this tournament. They're playing really well. They're a great team to watch. They've notched up some serious scalps. Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Intertwice home and away. They're not just doing this because they are located very far away and play in a plastic pitch because they've shown they can do it away from home as well as at home. You talk about the figures there, the money involved. I think the Inter squad is valued. Assembled at a cost of 666 million. They huffed and puffed to no great effect last night and Boulder Glimpse beat them fairly comfortably. And it's been billed as a fairy tale and I suppose it is but I wasn't massively surprised. Border glimp one that came last night. Yeah.

[B]

And I actually thought Nikki, that something that was really telling was that a full time. Of course they were happy but it wasn't like delirium happy. It wasn't like FA cup shock. I can't believe we've done this. It was like okay, this is a good win. What's next?

[C]

Yeah, I mean they're getting used to it now and they should do. I. I think there was this broad expectation certainly initially and perhaps from people outside who would have looked at Inter being top of the league and thought well they'll turn it over at San Sido. But I. I didn't feel like they were expected. I didn't expect Inter to win this. I didn't expect them to lose the home leg either. So that is a surprise and I think the manner they did it is. Is really astonishing. It's astonishing how comfortable they are and to Barry's point, talking about these scalps and it at home. So they beat Atletico Madrid in. In a game that forces Athletico to have to play in this round, which as we've seen is not a thing big clubs should want to do. So Atletico did want to win that game. That wasn't an end of group game they didn't care about. They also drew at Borussia Dortmund and I actually thought that was one of the. The discourses that came out of the first leg of this game, which perhaps is inevitable. A team like Inter is going to look for its excuses. There were players talking about, oh, the ball bounced really unexpectedly on that pitch. It wasn't what we, what we thought, but there was no real reason from watching this bodo team to think going to suddenly be not good at San Sido. They've been really good since the fifth game of the. Of the group stage at least. And I think what's so astonishing about it is they actually played quite different games between the first and second leg too. If anything, I think that they were less impressive in the first leg because they did give up chances in that leg. This game was a really calculated. We're going to let you have the ball, we're going to let you have that space, but we're going to hold our shape in that low block. But when we strike, we're going to do with that real ruthless efficiency. And it is astonishing how clinical they look going forward. They did against City, they did against Atletico, they did against Inter in both legs. When they, when they go with her, with Hauga, with everyone, they. They just seem like every time they, they go forward they're going to put it in the net and they do.

[B]

Yeah. And actually the second goal, Sam, is a great example of that.

[A]

I'm just thinking that. Yeah, absolute stunner, wasn't it? It's one of the best, one of the better goals I think you'll see in the Champions League this season. I mean, might not look spectacular on highlights, real. But just the technical ability to pull that off. The pass in and then the touch and the finish. We talked a bit before about the format and I think of the Champions League and they are a brilliant like feather in the cap of this new format. I know it has its critics, but I think they hadn't won in their first six like in the old format. They're now the story of the Champions League. I think. I don't think anyone's going to better at this season. Whoever goes on to win it. And actually they'd be completely done under the old format and they've pulled it back. And maybe, I mean, do we need to put a bit more respect on spurs last season for winning the Europa League because they got past Bodo right in the semi final.

[B]

No, you're right. But. But that's an interesting point because I still think Barry, people will go, oh, we want Bodo. Like you get to the last 16 and it'll be a tough game. And I even I'm sitting there going actually that you'd still want. You'd still fancy yourself and you shouldn't.

[D]

You're saying that as a Spurs fan.

[B]

Yeah, I mean obviously that's deranged.

[D]

I don't think anyone will want them. They're going to play Man City or Sporting. They've already battered City. Like battered them.

[E]

Yeah.

[D]

And I wouldn't say they have anything to fear from Sporting either.

[B]

No.

[D]

So I don't think anyone will want to play Bordeaux in the next round.

[B]

So. Interesting. I don't know the first goal, Nikki. I don't know what Akanji's doing and also I don't know what. Who is he complaining to after. That's the best thing.

[D]

I, I replay this again and again just to see who was a candy trying to blame for his mistake and. And why. So for anyone who hasn't seen it, he was trying to run the ball out of defense and then he thought better of it and turned to either side for the pass to his fellow centre back or pass back to the keeper, I'm not sure which. But anyway, he had his pocket picked by Blomberg. Blumberg shoots, Somner saves and Jens hog side puts on the rebound. And Akanji throws his hands up in the air, looks down the pitch and starts gesticulating furiously at someone. So I think he was having a go at Frateesy for not making himself ready for the pass out of defense. And Fratees, he had been running up to his upfield, he had his back to a kanji. So I think he was on thin ice blaming anyone else for that. But he did have a point in that Fratees, he wasn't open to receive the ball.

[B]

Obviously he has a bandage on. So you have to think of Terry Butcher and you think Terry Butcher wouldn't have done that. There's no way. He is not. He's not just getting that Launched. I mean, we have to talk about Inter, I guess, and in the context of, given where the Italian sides are tonight as well, possibly no Italian sides in the last 16.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Is that just a one off or is it.

[C]

There are going to be no Italian sides in F16. I, I feel fairly confident of it, if anyone will do it. I mean, Atalanta are capable of beating Dortmund at home, but by two goals. I'm skeptical. Can Juventus score three goals against Galatasaray? Definitely. Will they keep a clean sheet? Absolutely not. So I, I don't see either of them, I don't see either of them doing it. And I think it is, of course, it's, I mean, nationally, it's, it's, it's very, very bad that clubs are performing at that level. And it is, I think, would be the first time in the modern Champions League that there's ever been no Italian teams in the last 16. So it's a really bad season for Italian football. I think there's, there's always like levels to go to on these narratives and, and each of these clubs has its own story going on and that's what's actually happening.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

The big picture thing, I sometimes feel like I'm trapped in Groundhog Day with. Because I feel like there is this. Want to compare Italy to the late 90s, which haven't been around for a really long time.

[B]

But we still do think, we still think that.

[C]

I know, but, but the boring reality is that the Deloitte Money League says that the richest Italian team is Inter. Now listen, there's no, this is why there's, there's levels to talk about it. Inter going out at this stage to a team that, as Baz was saying, is, is financially tiny compared to them, that's hard to excuse. But the bigger picture of Inter are, I think 10th on that list. The only other teams in the top 16 on that list of the Deloitte Money League is Juventus. And Milan and Juventus in 16th, I think are literally one third the revenue of Real Madrid. That is why Italian clubs aren't going far in the Champions League because, because they aren't as rich. Having said that, one of them was in the final last year and two years before that. So I think there's, there's always like points to come into the conversation. But I think that this year is going to be a definite, really, really poor show from the clubs in Europe, obviously starting with Napoli, who didn't even get out the group, which is inexcusable but very predictable because Antonio Conte always does it and it, it does, I think look especially bad for all these clubs on Inter. When you are 10 points clear in Serie A, when you are 15 games with 14 wins in the league and you can't even, you can't even put up a good show in the second. Like if I think going out is one thing because again, Bodo are really good, but to lose both legs and this leg, I mean the goal they get, I think the fact that it barely crosses the line almost makes it feel worse. Like it's, it's like was it.

[B]

So they had a few chances, didn't they? Like before like they did. They had the, the boater keeper makes a few good saves.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

In the first half, but none of them are like saves he shouldn't make.

[C]

Yeah. And this is again where you get into levels of the conversation. The fact is this team is, despite how well it's going in Serie A, it looks to me like a team that is still working out where it is post Simone Nzaghi. Simone Nzaghi was one of those coaches who has a very clear tactical idea and who frankly, he was the one who moved the needle for them as a club. I mean, him. You go all the way back to them getting a result at Anfield when they were still going out of the competition. That was like this shift in the momentum of the team and he created this free flowing, fluid football that really has defined a little mini era of Inter and is kind of over now. And I think if you want to get into the, even the, the detail of this specific game, one of the things that happened under Simone Inzaghi, which is still being worked out, is Inzaghi's intern never dribbled. Last year they had the most possession in all of Serie A and they took on and beat a man the least times of anyone in Serie A. They did it all by out positioning you, by moving you around and, and, and getting position on you. And they don't do that quite as well. Now he's gone and they still don't have players in the team who can freelance, who can, who can beat their man. And when you get a team like Boda, who's going to sit there and go, okay, beat us, sometimes you, you don't have the tools to do it. And that's why they were, for instance, a player who's now at one of the other clubs we're talking about tonight. They were so keen to get Ademola lookman in the summit because he is someone who could do that. For you who could break down a packed defense a bit more now I think a lot of people are asking, okay, but you had 40 million euros to give Fatima Luckman. Why didn't you find someone else when you couldn't do that? There are lots of criticisms to make, but I do think the inter story, specifically, taking apart from the Italian story, which has got lots to say about, is about being at a specific moment in time between chapters. And I don't know yet if Christian kivu is the man to take them forward. And I think inter don't really either.

[B]

But he was very nice afterwards, chatting to Knutson, for instance. I don't see that very two managers having a nice little chat about life.

[C]

And I also think he's.

[A]

He.

[C]

He didn't. He didn't try to deflect it, which is admirable. I mean, in the pre game there was this interesting exchange with a norwegian journalist who made this slightly scoffing remark of, oh, shouldn't you be beating a little team like bodo? And he was like, well, you're the one laughing at them. We're not laughing at them. They're a good team. And then after the game when he was given the opportunity to say the inter should be beating teams like bodo, he said, well, this is all theory. In practice, they've been a better team than us twice in a row. So I think he's. He's a hand. He's owned the responsibility of it. But that doesn't necessarily mean you're the man to fix it.

[B]

Yeah. And that's the question, I suppose, for Italian footballer. You know, they could get knocked out by northern Ireland. Right. So this could. This could get worse before it gets better.

[C]

But just final thought on that as well. By the way, if inter win the league, this seat last season they tried to win everything and they won nothing. If inter win the league this season, they're going to call it a good season. So actually, even though this is a big. A low moment.

[B]

Sure.

[C]

In their season, it's not going to be defining.

[B]

Sure. And I think if you win the league, it's probably a good season. How far will bodo go, Sam?

[A]

Oh, I don't know. I don't know. But I agree with the analysis earlier that we need to turn it around. It's not oh, who do Bodo want to get, it's who do. Who wants to avoid getting bodo. Because going away there is just such a leveler. It's not what any team are used to. I mean, they've already beaten manchester city Sporting. I mean, they fancy themselves against sporting, right? And as Barry said, they are a good football team. It's not just like a. A lovely story and they score the odd scrappy goal and get lucky. They're a good team. So we've got to take them seriously.

[B]

All right, let's take them seriously. That'll do for part one. Part two, we'll do the other Champions League games.

[D]

Big news.

[A]

Wayfarer's tax refund sale is on now. Right, now, through March 2, you can score up to 70% off furniture, decor, appliances, rugs and more with fast and easy shipping straight to your door.

[C]

Plus amazing flash deals.

[A]

Shop Wayfair's tax refund sale now to make the most of your refund with huge savings through March [e-mail] Wayfair Every style, every home.

[B]

Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. So, in the other Champions league games, Newcastle 3, Carabag 2. I mean, it was done, Barry, before last night when Newcastle were two up after six minutes. Is there part of you hoping, Obviously, I know you're a Sunderland fan, but you were hoping to see 10.

[D]

No.

[B]

Okay. Sam, you are a Newcastle fan, were you?

[C]

Yeah, of course.

[A]

I'm always hoping to see 10.

[B]

Right.

[A]

That's the only reason I turn out the game. Hats off to the hundred or so Carabag fans that were up in that top corner because they should have put

[B]

them nearer the guard. Just for once. Newcastle put the away fans.

[A]

Could have squeezed them in.

[B]

They were still in carabag, weren't they?

[A]

Almost. I mean, so I. So Newcastle were 20 down in the semi final first leg of the Carabao cup. And I went to my wife and we live an hour from Manchester, and I said to her, you know what? Got a young baby. I'm away a lot, I'll just skip this one. And she said, you absolutely won't skip it. The second leg, I'm talking about because she said, if you sit on that sofa and Newcastle get an early goal, you'll be absolutely unbearable to be around. And I just wonder if a similar conversation happened over in Azerbaijan where someone went home and said, it's all right, look, we're six one down, so the flights are refundable. I'm just going to leave that one. And someone's partner went, yeah, but you. You just never know. If you get the first four, you're back in it. So fair play to them, like, Newcastle did the job they needed to do. The game was over, really. The tide was over in the first leg. Two Nil after what, five, six minutes. You're thinking like almost in that moment. It's getting a bit embarrassing. And it's like, oh, I wish there was the rule we used to have in the sort of early 2000s when you were playing FIFA. Like if you were three nil down after 60 minutes on a computer game. That was it. T over. Throw the controller. Yeah. Throw the controller. That's it. You had to come off. But they. They came back into it. I mean Newcastle positives right into the Champions League knockout stages. They got a few players back from injury.

[B]

It's the first time ever. Right, isn't it?

[A]

Yeah, it is. I mean there's lots of like formatty things. It is. Yeah. It is the first time ever. There was that weird period where there were two group stages. So they got into the second group stage. Is this the esprit years later than that. It's the Robson. Craig Bellamy scored a wonderful goal away at final. Anyway, we're going down a different path. But yeah, they're into the champions league last 16. So that's brilliant. They've got some players back. Joe Linton came back. Botman came back. Both scored. Johannes Visser who's been missing for most of the season partly due to injury and then partly because he's not getting in the side behind an attacking midfielder. Alex Murphy. Young lad finally got his full debut. It's only positive. Right? I mean I found it a bit odd how a few players were still on towards the back end. I know they're playing at laughing, laughing pace. Walking pace.

[B]

That is very.

[A]

Which is a weird pace. It is walking pace. I found it a little bit odd that Sandro Tonali was still on for 90 minutes. Given particularly Bruno Guimara's injury. Like he is central to Newcastle's team. To their midfield. And actually having had this horror run of away games they've now got a run of home games that aren't much easier. So I thought that was a little bit odd. But I don't think Eddie Howe gives players minutes just for the sake of giving players minutes. He's done that for the last three or four years. Even when he's been down to his bare bones. But yeah. Eddie. Fair play to the Carabag fans. Weird one for Newcastle fans to go to. Turning up. It was full there. A few were leaving early. Can't really blame them for that. I know some people think that it was sacrilege. But job done.

[D]

Yeah. One. One presumes the Newcastle sold all the tickets before the first leg.

[A]

Did they yes, they were all sold out.

[D]

Tickets were really expensive. 65, 65.

[A]

70 quid. Yeah. They stuck an extra fiver on it because it's Champions League knockout rounds. In fairness to them, like they had predetermined that, that those sort of prices come out before the start of the season. You get through the Champions League group stages, we're knocking it up. But yeah, I couldn't make last night because I was coming here, couldn't physically make it work. And I completely forgot to put my ticket back on the resale. And I only remembered about half an hour into the first leg when we were already four in the lap and I thought, oh, I've got no chance of reselling it. But actually it went within about a minute.

[C]

There's one thing that's bothering me with this knockout thing because I was reading people this morning talking about Newcastle reaching the knockout stage proper. Why is this not the knockout stage? Teams are being knocked out. I know a playoff round, it's still the knockout.

[B]

You make a very good point bothering me. Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16.

[D]

Sorry. Curious and awesome. In his analysis last night, Wayne Rooney was quite scathing about Nick Voltamada and his positioning on the field, saying that he was playing deeper than Tonali and Joel Linton. He was playing in front of the center backs. Whenever Newcastle got the ball wide, he made no effort whatsoever to get in the box. He does seem to have a dose of Hurricaneitis insofar as he's never where you think he should be. And I don't know if that's because he's doing what he's told or he's just. This is what he decides to do. But is it something you've noticed and would you concur with Waza that perhaps he should be positioning himself in the box?

[A]

I mean, Shera was saying this on commentary too. And far be it from me to like cut across Wazir and Alan Shearer. But I did think. Go on then when Shearer was saying it. I am thinking like he needs to get forward a little bit and he needs, you know, this is his chance to get a couple of goals. Yeah. But he's playing basically on the left hand side of a free man midfield. So he is actually playing tactically where he has been instructed to play. It's one of the things we'd have gone back a couple of weeks ago. Newcastle lost at home to Brentford. There was this big like crisis was overblown and there were these two narratives. This sort of Eddie Howe in, Eddie Howe out and as ever there was no room for nuance. And we've gone down this road before but they change things. And one of the changes is that when Voltamara first came in he was scoring quite freely. Those goals have dried up and actually in recent weeks it's been quite telling at times how has preferred to play Anthony Gordon through the middle when Volta Marder, Visser and Willasula have all been on the bench. And one of the things since Bruno Guimares got injured is that Volta Marder has dropped back a little bit. There have been plenty of people who say that he's probably best as a number 10 and that's what Newcastle had been doing. But actually looking at the analysis and where their average positions are, he is playing on the left hand side of a midfield free. So I think as much as we want, we think oh yes, center forward, he must be in the box. I think he's doing what he's told to do. And now alongside him he had another former forward who'd been converted into a midfield. So they just need to get Visser in there somewhere and they've got a three man midfield of former forwards.

[B]

More proof there that you don't need to listen to podcasts with Wayne Rooney or Alan Shearer I guess. Oh, I say he is taller. He'd just get deeper and deeper. What a fun center back he'd be up in goal. Athletic 4 Club Bruges. One doesn't tell the whole story of that bass really, does it?

[D]

No it doesn't. Club Bruges were very much in this until Atleti. I suppose it was just before halftime is probably the turning point actually. So it was one all on the night, four all on aggregate. Club Bruga's Hugo Vesson should have scored with a diving header but he was denied by an absolutely brilliant reflex save by Jan Obliged. And I think that save was. Was the game changer really. After the break Atletico Madrid ran away with it and ended up winning 41 but. But they didn't have it all their own way. As the scoreline suggests the 41 on the night to make it 74 in aggregate. They will now face Liverpool. Liverpool or Spurs. I wonder who they'd prefer. Maybe they'd prefer a photo glimpse. I mean.

[B]

Oh no.

[A]

Jan Oblak feels a bit like my like canary in the mine. I forget all about him. It feels like for all of my adult life in about February, March, April, suddenly Jan Oblak reappears in my life and I feel like everything in the

[B]

world is okay and actually see Also Simon Minule.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

You know, and they're both there. And he did make a mistake.

[D]

Oh, yeah. He let in a very soft one,

[B]

the first one from Sort, doesn't he? You'll like this. Niki Sauloth became the first athletic player to ever to score a hat trick in a Champions League knockout match. So they are now knockout matches. So that's isn't it? And Lookman did well for sort of second, didn't he?

[C]

Yeah, he did. I mean, so did Grman. That was really nice play all the way through. Grman coming off the bench and getting a big reception. Might be off to Orlando, but, yeah, Lookman. Lookman is integrated there really, really quickly. And I'm not surprised because he's a brilliant footballer. And it's kind of a shame that he's had this little. Feels like a lost chapter. After getting himself into the Ballon d' or voting and getting that Some of that recognition. Suddenly he had that fallout with Atlanta because they didn't honour what he felt was an agreement to let him leave. And it's taken a while. Think he's. He's certainly landed somewhere good. It is interesting. Baz is dead right in the first half of this game. Atletico really weren't in control of it. And I think to an extent, that's an image of. Of Atletico this season. They are a team that is capable of being really brilliant, beating anyone 4 nil. But they're also a bit lacking in. In controlling games. I think that's probably why they're not necessarily going to go all the way in this competition. But worst thing as well, Saul, of course, another little Norwegian victory on the night. So, yeah, Norway everywhere winning everything. Looking good.

[B]

It's a Lars Pod.

[C]

Yes.

[E]

Oh.

[B]

Nobody on this panel watched a minute of Leverkusen Olympiacos. Our apologies to the Leverkusen and Olympiacos fans, but they're through. It was a goalless draw and they'll play Arsenal Bayern Munich in the last 16. So you don't imagine, Barry, Arsenal Bayern Munich would be that worried if they get. Then.

[D]

I don't know.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

Is the answer. Because I can't remember a single thing Byron Everkusen have done in this tournament. Yeah. Which would suggest they probably won't be very worried. Barry labor may be really good.

[B]

I don't know if they've done the same amount of research as you. They can't be that worried because they wouldn't know. Tonight's games. Atalanta, Borussia, Dortmund, duvet, Galatasaray, PSG, Monaco, which is 3:2 to PSG at the time. And Real Madrid have that one goal lead against Benfica. Jean Luca Prestiani is provisionally suspended by UEFA for one game after the Venus incident, which is probably the right. They've probably done the right thing there.

[D]

He has traveled.

[B]

Has he?

[D]

I think they're appealing the decision to suspend him. I have no problem with him being suspended. It's probably for the best. I'd quite like if he was playing to see how. What kind of reception he'd get and how he'd deal with it. Cuz I don't think it'll be very pleasant. One he has been suspended despite not being found guilty of everything. And that seems weird.

[B]

Yeah. Anyway, we'll report on those games tomorrow and that'll do for part two, part three. We'll do some championships, we'll do some Premier League. We'll talk about what's happening in Mexico too. Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. And if you thought you got away with me ranting about handball just in the break, Barry brought up the Dan Burn handball penalty in the Carabag game. Your thoughts?

[D]

Oh, it was ludicrous. And I think there was a ludicrous penalty in the first leg as well, possibly also involving Dan Burn. I can't remember, but this one was. I mean, I know you get very het up about penalties given for handball, but he. I think he slid in and fell to the ground and his groundside arm, you know, which kind of broke his fall. The ball was hit against it and that was deemed a handball and it was sufficient to award Carabag a penalty. Ultimately, the penalty did not matter. No, but that's beside the point. There is literally nowhere else Dan Byrne could have put his arm.

[B]

But also, we're now at a stage where Newcastle didn't complain.

[E]

Right.

[B]

And Carabag didn't even appeal because they sort of knew they were going to get it and the ref just gave it straight away. And everyone's like, yeah, I guess that is in the Champions League. It's obviously like penalty. That's how far we've got. An IFAB are having a meeting at the moment, like in the next day to talk about laws of the game. They're not even talking about handball. Like no one is going there with a big. I want to go there with a big sort of placard saying, are you doing. You're ruining football. Like you're ruining it. And they don't even realize. I honestly it. And it's so ridiculous that it's different in they go well in the Champions League because that's a different form of football.

[D]

People's hands are different. They move their arms in different ways.

[B]

What does he have to do?

[D]

Just fall?

[B]

I mean, him falling down like a. Like a tree, like a redwood would be quite fun to watch, but his

[D]

arm was literally by his side between his body and the ground.

[B]

I don't know, I feel like I'm. I feel like I'm losing people as well, because people eventually, you know, you can play. You can't. You just accept it. You know, this is how. It's how people get away with bad things.

[C]

I mean, you know, the direction IFAB is going is towards more use of var. If anything, we're going to get VAR for corners from the World cup onwards. So.

[B]

Yeah, but I don't mind that if it's an obvious. Obvious corner. But, but. So, yeah, one of the VAR things is it's an obvious. If it's an obvious corner that, that they give a goal kick, they'll change that decision. But if it's an obvious goal to

[C]

find clear and obvious.

[B]

Well, of course, but if it's an obvious goal kick, that should be a corner, not the other way around. They're not going to change. That makes no sense at all. Anyway, somebody changed the laws of the game. Please, somebody break into ifab. Let's do the Premier League game for Monday night. Everton nil, Manchester United one. Another really good goal from Sesco. Sam and I. I never really noticed how fast he is unless James Tarkovsky is just incredibly slow.

[A]

I think there might be a bit of that. There is a little bit of running treacle, but he is quick. And the pass from Matthias Kunya is the one that sets it up to break. And actually, after all we've laughed at Manchester United, and I certainly have in the last six, eight months, it's looking like a really, really great summer window. With all the mess that was going on last summer, the recruitment. Sesko is starting to find the goal. Cunha sets it up and Buemo is involved and Seni Lemons. So actually, really good summer business. Cesco's taken a little bit of time. I know that there was almost a bit of worry at Manchester United that he worked too hard. He came in and was this perfectionist and really harsh on himself and maybe actually needed to step back and give himself a little bit of a break. And he started those couple of games under Fletcher, scored three goals and now what's he got? A winner at Fulham, equalizer at West Ham. Winner At Everton all off the bench and Carrick is slowly starting to trust him, build him up a few more minutes here and there. So, yeah, exciting front three for Manchester United and lovely first time finish. And also in front of the away fans. Perfectly set up, wasn't it? So he could just wheel straight towards those away fans in the corner.

[B]

Yeah. And what Carrick's doing, Niki, is like it just can't be this obvious. You know, put the players where they're meant to play and, and, and if he keeps doing this, they can't not give him the job.

[D]

Job. Yeah.

[C]

I mean it's. You look at previous examples of them doing that and turning to former player and going, oh, it's started quite well. But this does feel like something different, doesn't it? This feels like it's actually coming together. I do think some of it is timing. When you talk about Sesco, it feels like the lesson football never learns, ever, is that some footballers can't hit the ground running like some footballers will take a few months to get used to playing in a new country, in a new league and a new team and this expectation that everyone should be able to just show up and perform at the same level is, is. Is unrealistic. So some of it is timing but like you say, feels so natural already. It. It's astonishing that it was that hard before.

[B]

Yeah. And just because it didn't work with Soul shot doesn't mean it's a different person and a different time, different players. And whoever they brought in would just be so up against it. You know, if Carrick does carry on

[D]

this run, I don't think you can read too much into this result. This was a terrible, terrible game.

[B]

It wasn't great and it was won

[D]

by the soul moment of quality.

[B]

Yeah. Did you like Barry? The just the end of the last 20 minutes of the game, as far as I can tell, was Everton having a corner and all the players surrounding and James Tarkovsky and Harry Maguire just sort of falling on the floor and then laughing about it.

[D]

Yeah, it was hard to watch and it's kind of funny, but I suppose we have Arsenal to thank for this now. Don't we have to drag them in just because their fans love them? Getting blamed for Everton's tactics against Manchester United. But David Moyes more or less admitted after the game that was our tactic, try not to concede, score from a set piece. We didn't think Lamins would be good under a high ball and they just got, I think they had 10 corners, tried to bully United for Bully Lamins. Force the ball over the line with these battering rams lumbering up from the back and it didn't work. But it's grim to watch.

[B]

Watch. And how do you fix it? Someone was it.

[D]

Well, I, I think I don't know how to fix it. It's not my job to fix it. But what I can say is Sen Lamb is saying like a goalkeeper should not have to come from behind his goal line to be able to try just to have a 50, 50 chance of catching the ball or punching it clear when it comes in for a corner. Yeah, but they're not being protected.

[B]

I mean there is this issue, Sam, that you, you can't give away a free kick if the ball hasn't been struck. We had this with Ruben Diaz pushing Dan Byrne offside, right? And you sort of think, well, you can get sent off if you punch someone in the face after the full time whistle. So why can't you give away a penalty or a free kick before the corner's taken? That could perhaps change things.

[A]

And what was strange was a lot of the time you watch these things, similar situations on TV and you see that happening beforehand and you go, right, well, I just know as soon as this corner goes in, the ref's going to blow his whistle and give a free game to the defense and you're just waiting for it to happen. And it didn't happen this time. Maybe it was because they were enjoying it so much. Like, I don't know. I took, I took a bit of pleasure in it. I thought in a. In and amongst a terrible game. It was actually quite fun to watch. Not traditional football. James Tarkovsky clearly loves it. I'm not sure with the Arsenal comparison. I reckon Arsenal's set piece coordinator coach will be a bit offended because I don't think there was quite as much thought going into that, that Everton approach. I don't think it was quite as

[B]

much as Everton is lazy. All of you here see the goal mouth. Yeah. Everyone go there. But there's that bit in Sunday League League where you have a. It was Yoro and Tarkovsky, I think quite a lot of time where you sort of like you get close to someone and then you just. All your whole body weight goes into the person. It's really annoying. It's like, oh, this is so annoying. All these people just like flapping into each other. But I think it might be Kalina and if it is, if it isn't, then I'm sorry because I'm angry with you for the Handball. So maybe it isn't you, but once. Or someone was suggesting like an exclusion zone around the keeper. But that seems quite hard to enforce, Horse, doesn't it? I don't know how you do that.

[C]

I feel like you're gonna have a really long sign to go to ifab. It's getting like there's more. There's more lines being added to it. I don't know. I think there are. There's always going to be gray areas in football. If you put an exclusion zone around the goalkeeper, who's measuring it?

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Are we gonna have to have like

[B]

a drone above a cone of shame? Like a dog? Like if he has that and you can't, or like. I haven't thought it through. Evidently I haven't.

[A]

I know it's difficult with him, but he did so well, the goalkeeper. We should give him kudos because the way he's come in, like to come into such a high profile football club anyway and take a position. I mean, they had Edwin van der Saen there on Monday Night Football. Barthes has been there, Schmeichel has been there. It's a big position, the Manchester United goalkeeping position. Then you add in the mess the club has been in generally and then you add in his predecessor and all the noise around Inanna and how they've been struggling with a goalkeeper. And this young lad has come in having played, I think one full season in top flight football. He was at Bruges, couldn't get in behind Minul, so he was moved to Antwerp where he was hoping to be number one. Didn't quite happen for him. And then he played all of last season. And Tony Cotton, this goalkeeping scout for Manchester United, has recommended this kid that no one's really heard of. They paid less than 20 million quid for him. And he's come in and looks really unflappable, like, it wasn't like he was moaning and at the ref, he was finding solutions to it. And you're right, he shouldn't have to stop, start behind the goal line. But he was. It felt like I was back in sort of the 90s. He was catching footballs. I've not seen a goalkeeper do that for ages. I felt like Jennings, I should be able to go out and go to Blockbuster and hire a DVD or something like that. But also he was punching effectively. So often punching is just the default. And actually he was. He was using his judgment and punching and actually getting clearance on the ball. So I thought he had a really good game.

[B]

I didn't know that Tony Coton was the goalkeeping scout for Manchester United. Thanks for enlightening me. Let's talk about Snoop Dogberry. Of course, I always knew I'd say that sentence. He. He was at Swansea. He was at the Winter Olympics, wasn't he? But he was at Swansea. Gave everybody a towel and then walked out on the pitch before the game with Preston. Seemed to have a nice time.

[D]

Yeah. He's a part owner of Swansea along with Martha Stewart and Luca Modric. Luca Modric, that's it, yes.

[C]

Big man, little man, Snoop Dogg, Martha Stewart, Luca Modric. That's not a trio you expected.

[D]

So he rocked up at the Libert Stadium yesterday for Swansea's game against Preston. I think the crowd had been told he was coming. He got there was a welcoming party outside the stadium when he got out of his mini bus people carrier and only had appeared to have a one man entourage which I. I was disappointed.

[B]

More from sn.

[D]

I expect more from Snoop.

[B]

He's a man of the P. He's a humble guy. Just wanted to bring a mate.

[D]

So yeah, Paul for self. He signed autographs while a gang of kids serenaded him with Snoop Dogg's Bary army. Or no, it wasn't Bary Army.

[B]

Jack Army.

[D]

Jack Army. Yes. And then pre match, if Snoop next

[B]

goes to join the Barmy Army, I

[D]

thought, you know, well, it might make, make them less objectionable. There's. There's some people who could do with a dose of humility. But yeah, that's, that's not for a football podcast. Is it awful?

[B]

I think they're okay, aren't they?

[D]

Oh, they're great.

[B]

Okay, fine. They do quite a lot of good work.

[D]

Like what?

[B]

I don't know. I think support trumpets.

[D]

Is that good?

[B]

I don't, I don't hate a trumpet at the cricket. At the football maybe, but.

[D]

Okay.

[B]

I don't know why it's different. I think they do support the England cricket team quite well, I would say, but I don't, I don't spend a lot of time time with them anyway.

[D]

You're right. Yeah.

[B]

In defense of the barmy army, I didn't think I'd be there when I'm trying to talk about Snoop Dogg, which is what this podcast is about.

[D]

Yeah. And then he did a pre match sort of lap of appreciation and all the fans waved the towels he left for them on the seat and then sat down and watched watch the game and saw his team come from behind.

[B]

They were quite lucky.

[D]

Yeah. It was very, very late. Equalizer but. And, and then I think the Preston manager, Paul Hickingbottom made some joke about. Well, maybe it wasn't a joke. The tunnel stinking of weed. Yes.

[B]

We don't know if it's actually quite an offensive thing to say or true, do we?

[D]

Well, I wouldn't say it's offensive.

[B]

Okay, fine. Yeah, it's interesting being back in London because that smell does smell. There's more weed in London than Melbourne, I would say wafting about. That's why I'm so giddy today. Someone get me some Doritos. Anyway, what else happened in the championship? Borough drew one all with Leicester, so that means they are two points off Coventry. Coventry play Sheffield United tonight. Good result for Leicester that because they are a point from safety. They've had that point's deduction. They're a point behind West Brom who drew with Charlton. West Brom have sacked Eric Ramsey after just 44 days. Course of Marinakis vibes to West Brom, isn't it? It's their second sacking. He was appointed on a two and a half year deal on the 11 of January following the departure of Ryan Mason. Failed to win any of his nine matches. The Eric Ramsey bounce does not exist. Ipswich a third six points by Borough with a game in hand. They won at Watford. Wrexham Hall, Southampton, Bristol City, all won as well in those fights for the playoffs. Leicester a third from bottom. West Brom fourth from bottom. Oxford probably done now have 29 points. They are six points from safety. Lots of people have got in touch about Mexico and what's happening in Mexico and I wouldn't expect us all to be experts on the cartels, but they're, you know, they are one of the World cup hosts and a lot of people have seen, you know, vehicles on fire and around where some of the World cup games are being played. It began when El Mencho, this drug cartel leader, was killed during a federal operation to capture him. There was retaliation by cartel members who blocked almost 100 major roads, attacked National Guard bases across the country. At least 25 soldiers, 34 cartel gunmen died in the fighting. There was a a bus on fire which was on the road a mile away from the Estadio Akron, which is in Guadalajara, which is set to host four group matches. The city activated a red alert protocol on Sunday, freezing activity of ordinary citizens, encouraging them to stay at home. The violence had mostly subsided by Monday. The president of Mexico, Claudia Shinebaum, has said there's no risk for visitors coming to Mexico for the World cup cup and we're very vocal. Barry about politics in the US So we can't just not talk about politics in the other hosts.

[D]

Yeah, I mean, I'm going to draw my extensive knowledge of Mexican drug cartels. But is what's going on in Guadalajara that much different to what's going on in certain parts of the United States? Loads of people acting lawlessly with thugs running around with guns and setting things on fire. It doesn't seem that different. Just these are members of the cartel fighting against the army and the law enforcement, whereas in the States it's the, the tuggery of ice. I guess things will have calmed down by the summer if they haven't calmed down already.

[B]

I was reading somewhere that, you know, the cartel money is not just in drugs, it's in like nice official businesses which will benefit from people coming to the World Cup. So it's not in the cartel's interest. No, of course, you know, for the World cup not to happen or not to go smoothly, but I suppose that is a bit like how we approach, you know, how football approaches major tournaments, Nikki. Which is, well, as long as it's fine for the World cup and then, you know, we can have all the football and then we can all go back, back again and, you know, they can get on with fighting again.

[C]

Yeah. I think one of the things that I don't know if it was just because I hadn't seen the World cup machine close up before, but I really became aware of in 2010, was the power of FIFA to almost impose a temporary state of being on the places it goes to. So when they went to South Africa in 2010, there was the government specifically set up, I think, more than 50 almost short term expedited courts to deal with petty crimes so that you would have any instance of petty crime that effectively could disrupt this beautiful World cup everyone's having would make sure that was dealt with more efficiently than it would be normally. So at that time I was thinking, gosh, FIFA is this juggernaut that can just come into a country and effectively make the rules. And you look at this World cup and it feels, it feels perhaps for the first time that I've been again working in football journalism and covering these. Like, FIFA doesn't have that level of grip on a situation. They're going to be going to these countries and they are going to be at the whims of what's happening in Mexican politics, what's happening in American politics. And, and I think from a spectator point of view, I absolutely understand why people might look at that and think Gosh, this is. This is a bit less safe than I wanted to be. I think if you had been looking at watching games in these places and

[B]

actually a lot of people have thought I'm not going to go to the States for sort of ethical reasons. I'm going to go to Mexico for example, you know.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Mexico is supposed to be playing Iceland in a friendly today that hasn't been canceled. Yeah. So I don't know if it's in Guadalajara and isn't. Guadalajara is also hosting at least one, if not two World cup playoff games in March featuring Dr. Congo.

[B]

Jamaicans producer Silas is nodding behind you. Can he get there? Will Barry switch off? It was. Would you just switch off and just

[D]

offering there New Caledonia, Jamaica and dear Congo. So yeah. But the noises are that FIFA are just going to follow guidance from the Mexican security forces. But as you say it is not in the interests of the cartels to make it an unwelcoming place.

[B]

No, slightly different subject. Jamie says annoyed. The mighty yet often terrible Hatters are a game away from Wembley. Max potentially a Hatters v Hatters final should Stockport beat Doncaster. Yeah, it's that time of the season where lower league teams start to care about the LDV Vads Johnson's paint. Is it called the Virtu Trophy these days when teams get into the semi final but well done to dirty Luton who beat Plymouth and are in the semis. Tony says do the Kingsland Town watering their pitch in a downpour story so they force a postponement Top Housery yes, this is the story that Kingsland Town are being investigated over claims its sprinkler system was put on hours before a game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. They were due to play south shields in a three o' clock kickoff on 14 February but announced the postponement the day before the match. An anonymous source has released CCTV footage of a sprinkler in operation at the ground 10:38am on the Friday when it was also raining Ian Culverhouse's Kings in on just four points above the relegation zone in National League north and had injury problems ahead of the game. The club said due to a high amount of rainfall and insufficient drainage our pitchers too much sitting water and has become waterlogged. We don't know the. We don't want to get in trouble with Kings Lynn. Maybe this didn't happen. How do we feel about if it was the case Sam, this sort of behavior. I mean it's completely unacceptable. Actually I can really say about It,

[A]

I mean if you are deliberately, if you're a football club who are deliberately trying to avoid playing fixtures, then yeah, I'm not on board with that at all. I mean maybe it was just someone forgot to change the automated sprinkler system on holiday and it's pre programmed to come on on a Friday morning. Maybe that was it. I wonder what beef the person that released that anonymous footage has. Stay with Kings Lytown. I reckon this story has got a long way to run. It will lead more podcasts than Bodo glimps.

[B]

I reckon this, they're sort of scrolling through, you know like they. We finally got it. Who is watching? Who's watching CCTV of Kingsland town's pitch when a game isn't happening? That's the real question, isn't it? Is that the person with the most time on their hands?

[D]

I reckon it would still be better than Everton, Manchester United.

[B]

It's possible. We did contact the club for comment about the investigation. Hadn't received any comment from them when

[D]

we published this pod.

[B]

Barry, some half marathon news.

[D]

Yes.

[B]

Yeah. This is exciting.

[D]

Well, it's exciting and slightly disappointing.

[B]

Okay. Is it the listeners who we are disappointed?

[D]

Oh God no. No, not at all, no. Very happy with the listeners but I need the listeners help.

[E]

Max.

[D]

I have discovered that not only is the world of running competitive, but the world of fundraising is super competitive. I was not ready for this. So I got wind of the fact that the top five fundraisers for the London Landmarks half Marathon get the bibs numbers one one to five. Okay. On race day. That's, you know, so if you're the top fundraiser you get bib number one.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Now I think that would be a very heavy bib tw. Oh absolutely. I must say.

[B]

Yeah. And there would be a danger that people might on the day think you were the top five favorites to win in the race.

[D]

But anyway, as things stand, I'm currently in line to get bib number three.

[B]

Okay, that's admirable. Yeah.

[D]

And I've done sort of investigations and the, the two people above me, bibs one and two, they're basically propped up by massive singular one off donations of $50,000.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

One guy basically donated $50,000 to himself and the other guy got $50,000 which is, you know, 30 something thousand pounds from a group or a business. You know. Whereas my donations, I've got hundreds and hundreds of donations of all sizes is from loads of generous friends, family and football weekly. Family.

[B]

You're like Zoran Mamdani, aren't you?

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

So I. Basically I'm. I'm asking people to try and. Fundraising is bent, Max, and I want people to bend it in my.

[B]

Or you want to be pure like Bodo.

[D]

Right?

[B]

Yeah. You.

[C]

You need to.

[B]

So how much more money do we need for. We've already got 30 odd grand.

[D]

20 grand?

[B]

Has anyone got a spare 20 grand? Al, Nikki made a good point before the pod that you could just do the same and. 20 grand.

[D]

I'll be honest, I already resent the fact that the 30 something grand I've raised is going to charity. I'm certainly not donating any more of my own money Anyway.

[B]

If you haven't donated to Barry yet.

[D]

Just giving. Had a bit of a training wobble. I was injured and then it was ill and then I was just lazy.

[B]

Right.

[D]

But I'm back at it now.

[B]

Okay, good stuff. What day is that? What day is the rest?

[D]

It's the 12th of April.

[B]

Okay. And it's Hyde Park. Is it?

[D]

No, it's London Landmarks. All right. The clues in the title.

[B]

I haven't been paying attention to it.

[D]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

All right. Okay, so you're running around Big Ben. Big Ben and all that.

[D]

Trafalgar Squad.

[B]

Okay. And a few vape shops. A few vape shops and someone stealing a mobile phone. They're all the landmarks of London. Okay.

[D]

With a. With a constant smell of weed.

[B]

Okay, Good stuff. So, yeah, go on. He just needs a. I mean, if everyone listening. Yeah, just.

[D]

Just a quid.

[B]

Yeah, we'd do it.

[D]

No, we.

[B]

We'd raise five and a half. And a half million pounds.

[D]

But, you know, heavy is the chest that wears. Grid number one.

[C]

Ah.

[B]

Get Baza number one. Okay, that'll do for today. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Nikki.

[C]

Thanks.

[B]

Thanks, Sam.

[A]

You're welcome.

[B]

Thank you, Barry.

[D]

Thank you.

[B]

Football Weekly is produced by Silas Gray with Jesse Howard. Our executive producer is Ian Chambers. And we'll be back on Wednesday. What day is it today? It is Wednesday. We'll be back on Thursday. Everybody,

[C]

This is the Guardian.