Steve Cockburn
@stevecockburn.bsky.social
Amnesty International. Sport, human rights, workers rights, inequality. NUFC.
Amazing to hear Abdullah Ibais speak in person as a free man after spending years in a Qatari prison for refusing to lie about striking workers, while working on the World Cup.
“FIFA did nothing at all… They ghosted me”
A brave, humble and free man.
#playthegame #ptg2025
“FIFA did nothing at all… They ghosted me”
A brave, humble and free man.
#playthegame #ptg2025
October 5, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Amazing to hear Abdullah Ibais speak in person as a free man after spending years in a Qatari prison for refusing to lie about striking workers, while working on the World Cup.
“FIFA did nothing at all… They ghosted me”
A brave, humble and free man.
#playthegame #ptg2025
“FIFA did nothing at all… They ghosted me”
A brave, humble and free man.
#playthegame #ptg2025
Patriotism is for everyone
September 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Patriotism is for everyone
Hadaway and shite, fascists.
Proud to be a Geordie as thousands come out to oppose the far right in Newcastle today.
Proud to be a Geordie as thousands come out to oppose the far right in Newcastle today.
September 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Hadaway and shite, fascists.
Proud to be a Geordie as thousands come out to oppose the far right in Newcastle today.
Proud to be a Geordie as thousands come out to oppose the far right in Newcastle today.
When historians look back on the collapse of the United Kingdom into both farce and fascism, this headline will be used to explain a lot.
September 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
When historians look back on the collapse of the United Kingdom into both farce and fascism, this headline will be used to explain a lot.
September 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
One positive note - the women we spoke to were receiving support and help from some incredible organisations including Trace Kenya and Azadi Kenya.
The support and solidarity they provide have been essential to helping these women rebuild their lives.
The support and solidarity they provide have been essential to helping these women rebuild their lives.
May 13, 2025 at 9:30 AM
One positive note - the women we spoke to were receiving support and help from some incredible organisations including Trace Kenya and Azadi Kenya.
The support and solidarity they provide have been essential to helping these women rebuild their lives.
The support and solidarity they provide have been essential to helping these women rebuild their lives.
Much of the abuse the women suffered was fueled and shaped by persistent anti-Black racism - most women described as being called monkeys or slaves, and treated as possessions.
The East African slave trade and later British colonialism continue to cast a long shadow.
The East African slave trade and later British colonialism continue to cast a long shadow.
May 13, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Much of the abuse the women suffered was fueled and shaped by persistent anti-Black racism - most women described as being called monkeys or slaves, and treated as possessions.
The East African slave trade and later British colonialism continue to cast a long shadow.
The East African slave trade and later British colonialism continue to cast a long shadow.
Amnesty interviewed 72 Kenyan women who returned from working in Saudi Arabia. The conditions they faced:
❌At least 16h work per day, with no days off
❌Wages averaging 50 cents per hour
❌Sleeping on the floor, eating rotten food
❌Physical and sexual abuse
❌Phone and passport confiscation
❌At least 16h work per day, with no days off
❌Wages averaging 50 cents per hour
❌Sleeping on the floor, eating rotten food
❌Physical and sexual abuse
❌Phone and passport confiscation
May 13, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Amnesty interviewed 72 Kenyan women who returned from working in Saudi Arabia. The conditions they faced:
❌At least 16h work per day, with no days off
❌Wages averaging 50 cents per hour
❌Sleeping on the floor, eating rotten food
❌Physical and sexual abuse
❌Phone and passport confiscation
❌At least 16h work per day, with no days off
❌Wages averaging 50 cents per hour
❌Sleeping on the floor, eating rotten food
❌Physical and sexual abuse
❌Phone and passport confiscation
Met these two outside St James Park yesterday - walking 1400 miles from Teeside to Benidorm, carrying a fridge, to raise money for mental health and suicide awareness.
Please give them some love (and money) onemanandhisfridge.com/donate/
#NEWCHE
Please give them some love (and money) onemanandhisfridge.com/donate/
#NEWCHE
May 12, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Met these two outside St James Park yesterday - walking 1400 miles from Teeside to Benidorm, carrying a fridge, to raise money for mental health and suicide awareness.
Please give them some love (and money) onemanandhisfridge.com/donate/
#NEWCHE
Please give them some love (and money) onemanandhisfridge.com/donate/
#NEWCHE
If you are in doubt of the importance of this, remember the power of Afghan women being represented at the Paris Olympics - against the will of the Taliban.
Or the words of youth team player, Maryam Karimar
Or the words of youth team player, Maryam Karimar
March 25, 2025 at 12:03 PM
If you are in doubt of the importance of this, remember the power of Afghan women being represented at the Paris Olympics - against the will of the Taliban.
Or the words of youth team player, Maryam Karimar
Or the words of youth team player, Maryam Karimar
Led by former captain & founder, Khalida Popal, players who were forced to flee Afghanistan have been campaigning for FIFA recognition for nearly four years.
They were a revolutionary force in Afghanistan before the Taliban takeover, showing the world what Afghan women could do. That must continue.
They were a revolutionary force in Afghanistan before the Taliban takeover, showing the world what Afghan women could do. That must continue.
March 25, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Led by former captain & founder, Khalida Popal, players who were forced to flee Afghanistan have been campaigning for FIFA recognition for nearly four years.
They were a revolutionary force in Afghanistan before the Taliban takeover, showing the world what Afghan women could do. That must continue.
They were a revolutionary force in Afghanistan before the Taliban takeover, showing the world what Afghan women could do. That must continue.
Persecuted & banned by the Taliban, the Afghan women's football team is again set to be excluded from Asian Cup - ruling them out of the next World Cup too.
Players in exile are demanding FIFA back them
New @sportrightsall.bsky.social report out now 🧵
sportandrightsalliance.org/fifa-recogni...
Players in exile are demanding FIFA back them
New @sportrightsall.bsky.social report out now 🧵
sportandrightsalliance.org/fifa-recogni...
March 25, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Persecuted & banned by the Taliban, the Afghan women's football team is again set to be excluded from Asian Cup - ruling them out of the next World Cup too.
Players in exile are demanding FIFA back them
New @sportrightsall.bsky.social report out now 🧵
sportandrightsalliance.org/fifa-recogni...
Players in exile are demanding FIFA back them
New @sportrightsall.bsky.social report out now 🧵
sportandrightsalliance.org/fifa-recogni...
People often ask me how I can support Newcastle Utd and work for Amnesty.
After Wembley, here’s an attempt at an answer.
Maybe it’s hypocrisy. Maybe it’s sportswashing. Maybe it’s honesty.
You can decide. 🧵
#NUFC
After Wembley, here’s an attempt at an answer.
Maybe it’s hypocrisy. Maybe it’s sportswashing. Maybe it’s honesty.
You can decide. 🧵
#NUFC
March 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
People often ask me how I can support Newcastle Utd and work for Amnesty.
After Wembley, here’s an attempt at an answer.
Maybe it’s hypocrisy. Maybe it’s sportswashing. Maybe it’s honesty.
You can decide. 🧵
#NUFC
After Wembley, here’s an attempt at an answer.
Maybe it’s hypocrisy. Maybe it’s sportswashing. Maybe it’s honesty.
You can decide. 🧵
#NUFC
Sunshine helps...
March 6, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Sunshine helps...
FIFA’s public affairs newsletter never fails to deliver.
Full throated Donald Trump fandom - delight in being name checked in a “unique and beautiful” inauguration.
Full throated Donald Trump fandom - delight in being name checked in a “unique and beautiful” inauguration.
February 3, 2025 at 10:26 AM
FIFA’s public affairs newsletter never fails to deliver.
Full throated Donald Trump fandom - delight in being name checked in a “unique and beautiful” inauguration.
Full throated Donald Trump fandom - delight in being name checked in a “unique and beautiful” inauguration.
Live from Geordie Shore
Happy Christmas everyone!
Happy Christmas everyone!
December 26, 2024 at 11:51 AM
Live from Geordie Shore
Happy Christmas everyone!
Happy Christmas everyone!
Quite amazingly, the official celebration of the Saudi World Cup bid included a drone show lauding the state’s Public Investment Fund.
December 11, 2024 at 7:39 PM
Quite amazingly, the official celebration of the Saudi World Cup bid included a drone show lauding the state’s Public Investment Fund.
The attempt to create suspense was incredible.
But the results are in…
But the results are in…
December 11, 2024 at 3:57 PM
The attempt to create suspense was incredible.
But the results are in…
But the results are in…
This is what a FIFA vote looks like…
December 11, 2024 at 3:56 PM
This is what a FIFA vote looks like…
The Saudi 2034 bid introduced by two 13 year olds.
We should always be clear that criticism of the tournament is never about the Saudi population, who deserve the joy of football.
It’s always about the policies of the government and the risks to fans, workers and activists.
We should always be clear that criticism of the tournament is never about the Saudi population, who deserve the joy of football.
It’s always about the policies of the government and the risks to fans, workers and activists.
December 11, 2024 at 3:26 PM
The Saudi 2034 bid introduced by two 13 year olds.
We should always be clear that criticism of the tournament is never about the Saudi population, who deserve the joy of football.
It’s always about the policies of the government and the risks to fans, workers and activists.
We should always be clear that criticism of the tournament is never about the Saudi population, who deserve the joy of football.
It’s always about the policies of the government and the risks to fans, workers and activists.
And the KNVB from Netherlands – one of the most vocal critics in Qatar - are also voting yes.
Last week they visited the Saudi Arabian Football Federation as part of their engagement.
Last week they visited the Saudi Arabian Football Federation as part of their engagement.
December 11, 2024 at 12:49 PM
And the KNVB from Netherlands – one of the most vocal critics in Qatar - are also voting yes.
Last week they visited the Saudi Arabian Football Federation as part of their engagement.
Last week they visited the Saudi Arabian Football Federation as part of their engagement.
Liverpool were going to FLY back from Newcastle?
The club’s sustainability statement: “We recognise that we must do everything we can to limit our harmful effect on the globe.” Ok!
The club’s sustainability statement: “We recognise that we must do everything we can to limit our harmful effect on the globe.” Ok!
December 6, 2024 at 10:37 AM
Liverpool were going to FLY back from Newcastle?
The club’s sustainability statement: “We recognise that we must do everything we can to limit our harmful effect on the globe.” Ok!
The club’s sustainability statement: “We recognise that we must do everything we can to limit our harmful effect on the globe.” Ok!
It’s grim up north again
December 6, 2024 at 9:06 AM
It’s grim up north again
Things seemed to have escalated on the French border
December 4, 2024 at 4:13 PM
Things seemed to have escalated on the French border
This morning the Council of Europe’s parliamentary body has a hearing on how human rights criteria are used in selecting the hosts of mega sporting events…
I’ll be sharing some timely thoughts on FIFA’s approach.
I’ll be sharing some timely thoughts on FIFA’s approach.
December 4, 2024 at 8:42 AM
This morning the Council of Europe’s parliamentary body has a hearing on how human rights criteria are used in selecting the hosts of mega sporting events…
I’ll be sharing some timely thoughts on FIFA’s approach.
I’ll be sharing some timely thoughts on FIFA’s approach.