Mark Valentine
@kickerbeat.bsky.social
Essex born Londoner. Arsenal. No hatred for Spurs, plenty for fascism. Occasionally write about Watfordfc kickerbeat.com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/91849669@N05/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/91849669@N05/
Pinned
Mark Valentine
@kickerbeat.bsky.social
· Aug 24
No Logo - Kickerbeat
The thing is, once you’ve glimpsed Watford FC’s home shirt, you can’t unsee it. It’s not easy to become enraged by the colour blue, with its pleasing connotations of sea and sky. But when Watford FC’s...
kickerbeat.com
“The logo on our new shirt isn’t to everyone’s taste”…some may like it, some may not” kickerbeat.com?p=2028 #watfordfc
Reposted by Mark Valentine
“He knew nothing about it” www.theguardian.com/world/2021/f...
November 18, 2025 at 9:58 PM
“He knew nothing about it” www.theguardian.com/world/2021/f...
Fifa peace prize front runner threatens World Cup co-host with military strikes #infantino #fifa
Trump: "Would I launch strikes in Mexico to stop drugs? It's okay with me."
November 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Fifa peace prize front runner threatens World Cup co-host with military strikes #infantino #fifa
Refreshing to see sterling chosen over the dollar
Oz: We thought it was 125 million pounds. Our estimate is Americans will lose 135 billion pounds by the midterms
November 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Refreshing to see sterling chosen over the dollar
Reposted by Mark Valentine
Trump suddenly starts yelling about "FIFA! FIFA!"
November 5, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Trump suddenly starts yelling about "FIFA! FIFA!"
I wonder who the lucky winner will be? #fifa #infantino
FIFA will present its inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World” award during the World Cup Final Draw on Dec. 5 in Washington D.C.
Gianni Infantino to present first FIFA Peace Prize award at 2026 World Cup draw
FIFA will present its inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World” award during the World Cup Final Draw on Dec. 5 in Washington D.C.
bit.ly
November 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I wonder who the lucky winner will be? #fifa #infantino
Where to stage the #wc26 draw? Monterrey? Vancouver? Vegas? No, let’s go for the arts centre in DC Trump purged & stuffed with MAGA loyalists,
while declaring the venue a no go zone for ‘wokesters’ and ‘anti-American propaganda’. Fits like a glove with FIFA’s vision of “football uniting the world”.
while declaring the venue a no go zone for ‘wokesters’ and ‘anti-American propaganda’. Fits like a glove with FIFA’s vision of “football uniting the world”.
NEW:
🎰 FIFA was in advanced talks with venues in Vegas to host World Cup draw
🫡 But Trump admin insisted on Kennedy Center in DC - a venue he is now chairing & shaping - & Infantino fell into line, despite numerous FIFA officials preferring Vegas option
www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
🎰 FIFA was in advanced talks with venues in Vegas to host World Cup draw
🫡 But Trump admin insisted on Kennedy Center in DC - a venue he is now chairing & shaping - & Infantino fell into line, despite numerous FIFA officials preferring Vegas option
www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
How the Trump-Infantino bromance resurfaced to shatter Vegas’ World Cup draw hopes
The venue was suggested by Trump's administration, and Infantino fell into line, despite numerous FIFA officials preferring Las Vegas.
www.nytimes.com
August 24, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Where to stage the #wc26 draw? Monterrey? Vancouver? Vegas? No, let’s go for the arts centre in DC Trump purged & stuffed with MAGA loyalists,
while declaring the venue a no go zone for ‘wokesters’ and ‘anti-American propaganda’. Fits like a glove with FIFA’s vision of “football uniting the world”.
while declaring the venue a no go zone for ‘wokesters’ and ‘anti-American propaganda’. Fits like a glove with FIFA’s vision of “football uniting the world”.
“The logo on our new shirt isn’t to everyone’s taste”…some may like it, some may not” kickerbeat.com?p=2028 #watfordfc
No Logo - Kickerbeat
The thing is, once you’ve glimpsed Watford FC’s home shirt, you can’t unsee it. It’s not easy to become enraged by the colour blue, with its pleasing connotations of sea and sky. But when Watford FC’s...
kickerbeat.com
August 24, 2025 at 8:03 AM
“The logo on our new shirt isn’t to everyone’s taste”…some may like it, some may not” kickerbeat.com?p=2028 #watfordfc
Reposted by Mark Valentine
I am *broadly* in favour of saving the planet but would it fucking kill them to put lids on the half litre tubs of yoghurt?
August 22, 2025 at 11:59 AM
I am *broadly* in favour of saving the planet but would it fucking kill them to put lids on the half litre tubs of yoghurt?
Reposted by Mark Valentine
Sorry not to have posted on here in months - we had several requests to make our post match phone in available on another platform (besides X) and so we will be streaming it to our YouTube account also - until the technology collapses under the strain - starting with Charlton on Saturday
August 6, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Sorry not to have posted on here in months - we had several requests to make our post match phone in available on another platform (besides X) and so we will be streaming it to our YouTube account also - until the technology collapses under the strain - starting with Charlton on Saturday
FIFA maintaining its politically neutral stance by er, setting up shop in Trump towers. #fifa #fifacwc
Fifa opens office in Trump Tower, deepening ties with US president
The new Fifa office will be the federation’s second in the US, and its opening follows months of public ties with the US president
www.theguardian.com
July 8, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Reposted by Mark Valentine
Enzo Maresca on the Club World Cup: "I think it's a joke to be honest, it's not football. It's not for us. [...] If you suspend seven, eight games, that means that probably [this] is not the right place to do this competition."
www.skysports.com/football/new...
www.skysports.com/football/new...
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca fumes after two-hour Club World Cup weather delay - 'It's a joke! It's NOT football!'
Enzo Maresca: I think its a joke to be honest, its not football. I struggle to understand. I can understand that for security reasons, you suspend the game. But if you suspend seven, eight games, that...
www.skysports.com
June 29, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Enzo Maresca on the Club World Cup: "I think it's a joke to be honest, it's not football. It's not for us. [...] If you suspend seven, eight games, that means that probably [this] is not the right place to do this competition."
www.skysports.com/football/new...
www.skysports.com/football/new...
Reposted by Mark Valentine
Sports teams now standing up for the US constitution more effectively than the Democratic Party.
ICE agents attempted to enter Dodger Stadium on Thursday but were denied entry to the grounds by the team, a source familiar with the circumstances told CNN.
Los Angeles Dodgers deny ICE’s attempt to gain entry to Dodger Stadium grounds, source says | CNN
ICE agents attempted to enter Dodger Stadium on Thursday but were denied entry to the grounds by the team, a source familiar with the circumstances told CNN.
cnn.it
June 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Sports teams now standing up for the US constitution more effectively than the Democratic Party.
Reposted by Mark Valentine
can't wait for the world cup
Five players, and thirteen staff members from the Senegalese basketball team have been denied visas to the US.
The team is here to prepare for the upcoming Afrobasket tournament.
The team is here to prepare for the upcoming Afrobasket tournament.
June 19, 2025 at 6:59 PM
can't wait for the world cup
Reposted by Mark Valentine
So, wait. Israel is opposed to bombing hospitals now?
June 19, 2025 at 11:51 AM
So, wait. Israel is opposed to bombing hospitals now?
“they told us that we have to go and I had no choice” Timothy Weah, son of Ballon d’Or winner and ex Liberian president George Weah, poses with the current American president who is reportedly set to add Liberia to his no fly list. #unitingtheworld #Fifa
Over the course of a 16-min Oval Office appearance, a group of Juventus players stood by as President Donald Trump discussed a possible attack on Iran, his administration's travel bans & quizzed them on whether a woman could get into their team.
🔗Juve’s surreal audience with Trump: bit.ly/4eafUCv
🔗Juve’s surreal audience with Trump: bit.ly/4eafUCv
June 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
“they told us that we have to go and I had no choice” Timothy Weah, son of Ballon d’Or winner and ex Liberian president George Weah, poses with the current American president who is reportedly set to add Liberia to his no fly list. #unitingtheworld #Fifa
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Infantino’s vanity project serving only to deter fans from attending the actual world cup #Fifa #clubworldcup
Infantino’s vanity project serving only to deter fans from attending the actual world cup #Fifa #clubworldcup
Club World Cup fans tell of ‘dangerous’ Rose Bowl conditions amid heat and lack of water
Supporters who attended PSG’s noon kick-off against Atlético Madrid have talked of a struggle to access water and feeling unsafe
www.theguardian.com
June 17, 2025 at 8:57 AM
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Infantino’s vanity project serving only to deter fans from attending the actual world cup #Fifa #clubworldcup
Infantino’s vanity project serving only to deter fans from attending the actual world cup #Fifa #clubworldcup
The actual world cup, a tournament played since 1930, has never featured a match won by a ten goal margin #clubworldcup #Fifa #bestvbest
June 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The actual world cup, a tournament played since 1930, has never featured a match won by a ten goal margin #clubworldcup #Fifa #bestvbest
Infantino’s promise of a tournament featuring “the best versus the best” delivers Bayern 10 Auckland 0 #fifa #clubworldcup
June 15, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Infantino’s promise of a tournament featuring “the best versus the best” delivers Bayern 10 Auckland 0 #fifa #clubworldcup
Reposted by Mark Valentine
Reposted by Mark Valentine
"Confusion today as budget retail chain poundland accidentally sold itself for £1"
June 12, 2025 at 1:50 PM
"Confusion today as budget retail chain poundland accidentally sold itself for £1"
Unsure as to how this tallies with Infantino’s boast of ‘football uniting the world’. #clubworldcup #trump
Gianni Infantino’s idyllic vision for the World Cup has been clouded by Donald Trump’s travel ban.
He’s not the first to discover the perils of allying with the unpredictable U.S. President but it has given FIFA a major headache.
✍️ Phil Buckingham
He’s not the first to discover the perils of allying with the unpredictable U.S. President but it has given FIFA a major headache.
✍️ Phil Buckingham
Donald Trump’s travel ban undermines Gianni Infantino’s World Cup vision
Infantino is discovering that the U.S. president's unpredictable nature can complicate his plans for 2026
www.nytimes.com
June 6, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Unsure as to how this tallies with Infantino’s boast of ‘football uniting the world’. #clubworldcup #trump
Reposted by Mark Valentine
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia which recently bought a bit of DAZN for $1bn, incidentally the same amount DAZN paid FIFA to be broadcaster of the Club World Cup, is now an official partner of the Club World Cup. Who saw this coming? Who??? 🙀
June 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia which recently bought a bit of DAZN for $1bn, incidentally the same amount DAZN paid FIFA to be broadcaster of the Club World Cup, is now an official partner of the Club World Cup. Who saw this coming? Who??? 🙀