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Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning India across Hockey, Soccer, Football.

98 articles

Pargat Singh Criticizes Saffron Jersey Shift, Calls for Sports to Stay Politic‑Free

Former India hockey captain Pargat Singh has openly denounced the recent alteration of the national team’s kit from its traditional blue to a saffron hue, describing the move as part of a broader ‘saffronisation’ push that he says is driven by political considerations. He argues that the government’s energy would be better spent on concrete improvements — upgrading training facilities, expanding grassroots programs, and ensuring that athletes have the resources they need — rather than on symbolic changes that risk politicising sport. His criticism joins a growing chorus of dissent; former captain Viren Rasquinha and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have also voiced unease, suggesting that the decision reflects a narrow mindset that threatens the spirit of Indian sport. Singh insists that sport’s power lies in its ability to bring people together, to foster brotherhood and mutual respect, and warns that dragging political agendas onto the field undermines those very ideals. The debate underscores a larger conversation about how Indian institutions balance national identity, political narratives, and the development of athletic talent, a tension that will likely continue as the country navigates its sporting ambitions.

Jul 30, 2026

FIFA’s $20 Billion Stake Sale Sparks Global Controversy

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has announced a plan to sell a 20 percent stake in the organization’s commercial arm, a move that would value the unit at roughly twenty billion dollars. The proposal has drawn a sharp rebuke from UEFA, whose president Aleksander Ceferin warned that the soul of soccer cannot be reduced to a tradable asset, highlighting a deepening rift between the two governing bodies. Critics argue that Infantino underestimates the emotional weight that fans attach to the World Cup, a sentiment that has fueled protests across continents and raised questions about the future of the sport’s cultural fabric. Central to the deal is venture‑capitalist Joshua Kushner, brother‑in‑law of former U.S. president Donald Trump, who would partner with his firm Thrive Capital. Kushner, whose portfolio includes stakes in Instagram, Spotify and Slack, brings a personal fortune estimated at three point six billion dollars to the table. The involvement of the Trump family adds a political dimension, as Ivanka Trump is married to Kushner and the couple has cultivated close ties to the former administration, a connection that both bolsters and complicates the transaction’s public perception. UEFA’s response underscores the uphill battle facing the proposal, as the organization calls for unity and stresses that the sport’s heritage should remain insulated from market forces, leaving the ultimate fate of the stake sale uncertain.

Jul 29, 2026

Infantino’s Unchallenged Reign at FIFA Amid Growing Influence and Controversy

The latest FIFA newsletter omitted Gianni Infantino, sparking speculation about his leadership. While criticism mounts from UEFA and European bodies, Infantino enjoys firm backing from key confederations and pursues a sweeping vision that includes a 64‑team World Cup and deeper ties with global football power brokers.

Jul 27, 2026