
Sensemaker Audio
Spain’s World Cup triumph… overshadowed
Spain lifted their first Women’s World Cup trophy after beating England in the final. But off the field matters have dampened their victory
Sensemaker Audio
Spain lifted their first Women’s World Cup trophy after beating England in the final. But off the field matters have dampened their victory
Slow Newscast
In June a scandal erupted that threatened the future of snooker after ten elite players were banned for match fixing. It all starts in a small snooker hall in Sheffield, but ends on a journey through a several hundred billion dollar a year black market in south-east Asia. This is the story of the biggest British match-fixing scandal in over a decade
Sensemaker Audio
The Fifa Women’s World Cup has begun. After the success of the Lionesses at the Euros, what effect could this tournament have on women’s football in the UK?
The News Meeting
James Harding is joined by Tortoise news editor Jess Winch, head of investigations Alexi Mostrous and head of social media Andrew Butler. In this episode they discuss the sale of Manchester United, Israel’s government pausing a judicial overhaul after protests and attitudes towards asylum seekers around the world
Quarterly
Haji Mohamed Dawjee explains what the tennis star’s success meant to a young woman growing up in South Africa
The News Meeting
In this episode Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding and the team discuss how the news should respond to major humanitarian disasters like the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
Sensemaker Audio
24-year-old quarterback Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a game of Monday night football. Could his injury be a turning point for the NFL?
Sensemaker Audio
In an historic year for English women’s football, one player stood out – Beth Mead. Her journey to success is a story of dedication and bouncing back from knock-backs.
Sport Sensemaker
Sunday’s World Cup final in Qatar features Qatar’s two most famous employees – Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Doha has the climax it paid $200 billion for.
Sensemaker Audio
Spain lifted their first Women’s World Cup trophy after beating England in the final. But off the field matters have dampened their victory
Slow Newscast
In June a scandal erupted that threatened the future of snooker after ten elite players were banned for match fixing. It all starts in a small snooker hall in Sheffield, but ends on a journey through a several hundred billion dollar a year black market in south-east Asia. This is the story of the biggest British match-fixing scandal in over a decade
Sensemaker Audio
The Fifa Women’s World Cup has begun. After the success of the Lionesses at the Euros, what effect could this tournament have on women’s football in the UK?
The News Meeting
James Harding is joined by Tortoise news editor Jess Winch, head of investigations Alexi Mostrous and head of social media Andrew Butler. In this episode they discuss the sale of Manchester United, Israel’s government pausing a judicial overhaul after protests and attitudes towards asylum seekers around the world
The News Meeting
In this episode Tortoise’s editor-in-chief James Harding and the team discuss how the news should respond to major humanitarian disasters like the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
Sensemaker Audio
24-year-old quarterback Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a game of Monday night football. Could his injury be a turning point for the NFL?
Sensemaker Audio
In an historic year for English women’s football, one player stood out – Beth Mead. Her journey to success is a story of dedication and bouncing back from knock-backs.
Sensemaker Audio
A day before the Qatar World Cup began, Gianni Infantino came to the defence of the host nation. After his surprising monologue at a press conference it was clear football and politics would continue to collide under his leadership.
Sensemaker Audio
England’s women won the European Championship for the first time in their history – but what does their victory mean for the future of the game, and what needs to be done to ensure the legacy isn’t lost?
thinkin
This is a newsroom ThinkIn. In-person and digital-only tickets are available.When football clubs are looking for investment, what are their options? When Newcastle United accepted a mammoth $300M investment by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund (PIF), it came with promises to bolster the club, benefit local communities and enrich the experience for fans. But should Newcastle be accepting money from a country with Saudi Arabia’s human rights record? Can national fans reconcile going to Qatar later this year with the knowledge of how labourers were exploited and died during stadium construction?Where does this leave the fans who have concerns about where the money flowing into their clubs comes from, or where the leagues turn to for partners and hosts?Is this about seeing the long term benefits to the game, the fans and their communities, or are we allowing oppressive regimes and problematic companies to ‘sportwash’ their reputations? editor and invited experts Andrew ButlerEditor and Head of Social Anthony BurnettCEO, Kick It Out Chris PaourosCo-Chair, Proud Lilywhites Dale VinceChair, Forest Green Rovers David HarrisonJournalist Florence Lloyd-HughesJournalist and broadcaster Kieran MaguirePodcaster and football finance lecturer, University of Liverpool
thinkin
O n Sunday, Spain beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final. It was only the third time Spain had qualified for the tournament. It has been a remarkable rise for the country, who are one of only two nations to win both the men’s and women’s competitions. But when the final whistle blew, a curious scene unfolded. The players piled onto each other in jubilation, but they were not joined by the coaching staff. Two distinct groups celebrated. This separation is down to the manager, a 42-year-old man called Jorge Vilda. He’s coached the Spanish women’s team since 2015, but last year he fell foul of his players. Fifteen players wrote letters to the Spanish Football Federation, saying they would not be available for selection while Vilda remained as manager. According to The Athletic, the players felt they were insufficiently prepared for matches: they arrived to host cities too late and travelled by bus when planes would be more practical. They also complained about the behaviour of some coaches, claiming they were asked to keep their room doors open in hotels where they were based. They said they were made to tell coaches where – and with whom – they were going if they went for a walk. Although they never asked for Jorge Vilda to be fired, his relationship with the players completely broke down. Twelve of the 15 Spanish players who went on strike last year were left out of the 2023 World Cup squad. Despite this, Spain’s womens’ national team went on to win the tournament. But Vilda shares in this success, and it has raised questions about the Spanish Football Federation and whether the win is actually good for women’s football. This was compounded after the Spanish Football Federation president kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy celebration. Hermoso said on an Instagram live video that she ‘didn’t like it’, but later she clarified her position, saying it was a “natural gesture of affection”. The president has since apologised. Following the win, the Spanish papers were dominated by photos of the victorious team. One headline read: “The world is theirs.” It should have been a period of unadulterated joy for the Spanish women’s national team. Instead it’s been overshadowed. Today’s episode was written by Andrew Butler and mixed by Xavier Greenwood.
thinkin
As the pandemic-delayed Euro 2020 tournament finally gets going, what state is football in – and who now holds the power? Some of Europe’s biggest clubs tried to stage a coup during lockdown and were shamed into dropping their plans for an elite European Super League which seemed great for them and terrible for everyone else. Within 48 hours the whole thing disintegrated, the big clubs were fined and agreed to make a £13m+ ‘goodwill contribution’ to fund grassroots football initiatives across the continent. But is this all just too little too late? Have the owners of giants like Juventus, Real Madrid and Manchester United been thwarted for good? Is UEFA back in charge? Or have the ‘legacy fans’ who stood up for tradition finally realised their power to take back the game? And an uncomfortable question: is it just a bit hypocritical that fans who embraced the big-money Premier League two decades ago should now object to what many had predicted was an inevitable next step? Can the soul of football be revived or is it lost forever? editor David TaylorEditor and reporter
thinkin
O n Sunday, Spain beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final. It was only the third time Spain had qualified for the tournament. It has been a remarkable rise for the country, who are one of only two nations to win both the men’s and women’s competitions. But when the final whistle blew, a curious scene unfolded. The players piled onto each other in jubilation, but they were not joined by the coaching staff. Two distinct groups celebrated. This separation is down to the manager, a 42-year-old man called Jorge Vilda. He’s coached the Spanish women’s team since 2015, but last year he fell foul of his players. Fifteen players wrote letters to the Spanish Football Federation, saying they would not be available for selection while Vilda remained as manager. According to The Athletic, the players felt they were insufficiently prepared for matches: they arrived to host cities too late and travelled by bus when planes would be more practical. They also complained about the behaviour of some coaches, claiming they were asked to keep their room doors open in hotels where they were based. They said they were made to tell coaches where – and with whom – they were going if they went for a walk. Although they never asked for Jorge Vilda to be fired, his relationship with the players completely broke down. Twelve of the 15 Spanish players who went on strike last year were left out of the 2023 World Cup squad. Despite this, Spain’s womens’ national team went on to win the tournament. But Vilda shares in this success, and it has raised questions about the Spanish Football Federation and whether the win is actually good for women’s football. This was compounded after the Spanish Football Federation president kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy celebration. Hermoso said on an Instagram live video that she ‘didn’t like it’, but later she clarified her position, saying it was a “natural gesture of affection”. The president has since apologised. Following the win, the Spanish papers were dominated by photos of the victorious team. One headline read: “The world is theirs.” It should have been a period of unadulterated joy for the Spanish women’s national team. Instead it’s been overshadowed. Today’s episode was written by Andrew Butler and mixed by Xavier Greenwood.
thinkin
O n Sunday, Spain beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final. It was only the third time Spain had qualified for the tournament. It has been a remarkable rise for the country, who are one of only two nations to win both the men’s and women’s competitions. But when the final whistle blew, a curious scene unfolded. The players piled onto each other in jubilation, but they were not joined by the coaching staff. Two distinct groups celebrated. This separation is down to the manager, a 42-year-old man called Jorge Vilda. He’s coached the Spanish women’s team since 2015, but last year he fell foul of his players. Fifteen players wrote letters to the Spanish Football Federation, saying they would not be available for selection while Vilda remained as manager. According to The Athletic, the players felt they were insufficiently prepared for matches: they arrived to host cities too late and travelled by bus when planes would be more practical. They also complained about the behaviour of some coaches, claiming they were asked to keep their room doors open in hotels where they were based. They said they were made to tell coaches where – and with whom – they were going if they went for a walk. Although they never asked for Jorge Vilda to be fired, his relationship with the players completely broke down. Twelve of the 15 Spanish players who went on strike last year were left out of the 2023 World Cup squad. Despite this, Spain’s womens’ national team went on to win the tournament. But Vilda shares in this success, and it has raised questions about the Spanish Football Federation and whether the win is actually good for women’s football. This was compounded after the Spanish Football Federation president kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy celebration. Hermoso said on an Instagram live video that she ‘didn’t like it’, but later she clarified her position, saying it was a “natural gesture of affection”. The president has since apologised. Following the win, the Spanish papers were dominated by photos of the victorious team. One headline read: “The world is theirs.” It should have been a period of unadulterated joy for the Spanish women’s national team. Instead it’s been overshadowed. Today’s episode was written by Andrew Butler and mixed by Xavier Greenwood.
thinkin
O n Sunday, Spain beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final. It was only the third time Spain had qualified for the tournament. It has been a remarkable rise for the country, who are one of only two nations to win both the men’s and women’s competitions. But when the final whistle blew, a curious scene unfolded. The players piled onto each other in jubilation, but they were not joined by the coaching staff. Two distinct groups celebrated. This separation is down to the manager, a 42-year-old man called Jorge Vilda. He’s coached the Spanish women’s team since 2015, but last year he fell foul of his players. Fifteen players wrote letters to the Spanish Football Federation, saying they would not be available for selection while Vilda remained as manager. According to The Athletic, the players felt they were insufficiently prepared for matches: they arrived to host cities too late and travelled by bus when planes would be more practical. They also complained about the behaviour of some coaches, claiming they were asked to keep their room doors open in hotels where they were based. They said they were made to tell coaches where – and with whom – they were going if they went for a walk. Although they never asked for Jorge Vilda to be fired, his relationship with the players completely broke down. Twelve of the 15 Spanish players who went on strike last year were left out of the 2023 World Cup squad. Despite this, Spain’s womens’ national team went on to win the tournament. But Vilda shares in this success, and it has raised questions about the Spanish Football Federation and whether the win is actually good for women’s football. This was compounded after the Spanish Football Federation president kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy celebration. Hermoso said on an Instagram live video that she ‘didn’t like it’, but later she clarified her position, saying it was a “natural gesture of affection”. The president has since apologised. Following the win, the Spanish papers were dominated by photos of the victorious team. One headline read: “The world is theirs.” It should have been a period of unadulterated joy for the Spanish women’s national team. Instead it’s been overshadowed. Today’s episode was written by Andrew Butler and mixed by Xavier Greenwood.
thinkin
O n Sunday, Spain beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final. It was only the third time Spain had qualified for the tournament. It has been a remarkable rise for the country, who are one of only two nations to win both the men’s and women’s competitions. But when the final whistle blew, a curious scene unfolded. The players piled onto each other in jubilation, but they were not joined by the coaching staff. Two distinct groups celebrated. This separation is down to the manager, a 42-year-old man called Jorge Vilda. He’s coached the Spanish women’s team since 2015, but last year he fell foul of his players. Fifteen players wrote letters to the Spanish Football Federation, saying they would not be available for selection while Vilda remained as manager. According to The Athletic, the players felt they were insufficiently prepared for matches: they arrived to host cities too late and travelled by bus when planes would be more practical. They also complained about the behaviour of some coaches, claiming they were asked to keep their room doors open in hotels where they were based. They said they were made to tell coaches where – and with whom – they were going if they went for a walk. Although they never asked for Jorge Vilda to be fired, his relationship with the players completely broke down. Twelve of the 15 Spanish players who went on strike last year were left out of the 2023 World Cup squad. Despite this, Spain’s womens’ national team went on to win the tournament. But Vilda shares in this success, and it has raised questions about the Spanish Football Federation and whether the win is actually good for women’s football. This was compounded after the Spanish Football Federation president kissed forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy celebration. Hermoso said on an Instagram live video that she ‘didn’t like it’, but later she clarified her position, saying it was a “natural gesture of affection”. The president has since apologised. Following the win, the Spanish papers were dominated by photos of the victorious team. One headline read: “The world is theirs.” It should have been a period of unadulterated joy for the Spanish women’s national team. Instead it’s been overshadowed. Today’s episode was written by Andrew Butler and mixed by Xavier Greenwood.
thinkin
Should women and men be paid the same in sport? We’ve turned a corner in the past few years; there’s more respect for women’s sport, and much more coverage. But there isn’t – yet – anything like the money available to men. Does simple fairness demand financial parity for sportswomen at the stratospheric levels of some men’s sports? Or, with all the complaints from fans about the way money has wrecked men’s sport, is the question more complicated? If the rewards for female sports go up, and for men’s sport go down, might we see a rebalancing in everyone’s interests? Our special guests for this ThinkIn included: Tallulah Lewis, Women in Racing Chair Eddie Ramsden, Director at Lewes FC Ian Ridley, sports journalist and author The Readout We’ve turned a corner in the past few years; there’s more respect for women’s sport, and much more coverage. But for women, there is not anything like the money available to men. Does simple fairness demand equality? We came together to talk about the gender pay gap in professional sport, but left with a better understanding of why women’s sport is so undervalued. The history. It’s worth thinking about the impact of the FA’s ban on women’s football (yes, really). In 1920, women’s football was more popular than men’s. Then the (all-male) FA, banned it. The lack of equality in pay, remarked one contributor, “is as a result of really low media coverage, driving really low interest and attendance, driving really low commercial interest.” The decision makers. In the UK, nearly every major TV sports channel or Head of Sport position is held by a man. The exception is the BBC where Barbara Slater runs the show. This year, we’re being served a summer of women’s sport on the BBC. Not just the Football World Cup but the Netball World Cup, the Women’s cricket ashes and more. To create more exposure in the media, we should look at the people at the top who can spark change at the bottom. The problems start young. We were lucky to have with us teenagers from an east London secondary school – they spoke eloquently about the disparities they noticed between genders in sport in their age groups. Schools need to place equal value on boys’ and girls’ sports. At a professional level, women’s sports need to be valued equally in prize money. Two years ago, the FA increased prize money for clubs in the FA cup. They doubled it for the men – but left it the same for women. At every level female sport is dealt a dud hand. What next? The interesting question is not whether women and men should be paid the same (“of course they should!”) but how do we get to a point where women and men are paid equally as quickly as possible? The Lewes FC story – a (small) club where male and female players are paid equally is a fascinating story and worth returning to.
thinkin
England’s women are World Cricket champions; the football team is on the rise and the leading women’s clubs in England are cutting a swathe through Europe; two women jockeys have just won Grade 1 races at the Cheltenham Festival. The crowds are growing but can women ever hope to command the commercial heights already scaled by the men? What is a Tortoise ThinkIn? A ThinkIn is not another panel discussion. It is a forum for civilised disagreement. Modelled on what we call a ‘leader conference’ in the UK (or an editorial board in the US), it is a place where everyone has a seat at the table. It’s where we get to hear what you think, drawn from your experience, energy and expertise. It’s where, together, we sift through what we know to come to a clear, concise point of view. It is the heart of what we do at Tortoise. Drinks from 6.00pm, starts promptly at 6.30pm. If you are late to a ThinkIn you can ‘SlinkIn’! If you would like to contribute to this ThinkIn, let us know by emailing thinkin@tortoisemedia.com We film our Thinkins so we can watch them back, edit the best bits and share them with members who weren’t there in person. Members can find their ThinkIn booking code in My Tortoise, under My Membership. The best experience to book a ThinkIn is via your app.
Quarterly
Haji Mohamed Dawjee explains what the tennis star’s success meant to a young woman growing up in South Africa
Sport Sensemaker
Sunday’s World Cup final in Qatar features Qatar’s two most famous employees – Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Doha has the climax it paid $200 billion for.
Sport Sensemaker
England vs. France is more than Kylian Mbappe against Harry Maguire. It’s also a clash of financial models and cultures.
The Portuguese forward could soon leave European football for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. Such a move would be another win for the Gulf state
Sport Sensemaker
Doddie Weir’s death at 52 from motor neurone disease stirred anger as well as grief. Paul Hayward examines the slowness to unlock funding.
In many ways, this is a World Cup unlike any other. In others, it’s just like the rest. Andrew Butler examines the contradictory nature of Qatar 2022
On the Three Lions’ 150th birthday Paul Hayward reflects on how far the national team have come – and the challenges that face them now
Political tensions between Iran and the US have threatened to spill over onto the pitch in recent days
Sport Sensemaker
The story of former Welsh footballer Laura McAllister being ordered to remove her rainbow bucket hat in Qatar was the start of a new tailspin for this World Cup.