Ahmed Bilal
Sports Editor
Fifa World Cup Voters
Ahmed Bilal • Nov 23 2010They’ve got the whole world in their hands…or at least the destination of the next two World Cups, which is still more valuable than 99% of any ‘voting’ privileges you…
Paul The Octopus dies…can we get back to the football please?
Ahmed Bilal • Oct 26 2010“Paul” the Octopus is dead. If you, like me, were watching the World Cup with all the dread and disinterest of a Manchester United / England fan (there really was…
Wayne Rooney – It’s All About The Money, Not Titles
Ahmed Bilal • Jan 12 2022As a lifelong Manchester United fan, Rooney was my favourite United player till last week. It seems almost childish to talk about ‘favourite’ players when you’re a football journalist, but…
NESV will borrow money for Liverpool, just like Hicks and Gillett
Ahmed Bilal • Oct 11 2010Football club ownership, like politics and any public sphere activity that commands the attention of the masses (i.e. is a money-spinner), is an absolute sham. You’re not only being lied…
Fifa should ban corruption, not Nigeria
Ahmed Bilal • Oct 5 2010Fifa suspended Nigeria from participating in any international football fixtures after government interference in the game. Fifa rules – and this is a good rule in principle – prohibit any…
The truth about Manchester United’s contracts and transfers policies
Ahmed Bilal • Sep 22 2010Manchester United’s policy to sign young players – accepting that grooming young players made more economic and long-term sense (and built a team rather than a collection of superstars) has…
Benitez: Liverpool directors know nothing about football
Ahmed Bilal • Sep 22 2010I like Rafa – I’ve defended him in the past when even the Liverpool fans had turned on him – but he can be terribly transparent when it comes to…
Platini Defends International Football Against Club Football
Ahmed Bilal • Sep 21 2010UEFA President Michel Platini has stepped up to defend international football in the face of criticism from European football clubs about crowded fixture lists and ‘meaningless friendlies’. In remarks published…
Miles Jacobson Interview (Football Manager 2011)
Ahmed Bilal • Jan 12 2022This week Soccerlens got the opportunity to chat with Miles Jacobson about all things Football Manager. You can catch this exclusive interview on this week’s 3 Up Front podcast (near…
England are 6th in FIFA rankings – here’s why
Ahmed Bilal • Dec 21 2021Today’s FIFA rankings are going to provide the self-loathing, masochistic English press with more ammo to berate the English national team, and then take the easy option making fun of…
With Valencia out, can Chicharito play on the wings for United?
Ahmed Bilal • Sep 17 2010With Antonio Valencia set to miss the rest of the season – a minimum of 5-6 months plus rehabilitation time means it’s likely that he’ll be back for pre-season next…
Who orchestrated the fake Togo – Bahrian friendly?
Ahmed Bilal • Sep 15 2010Reports suggest that Bahrian 3-0 win over Togo in a friendly game wasn’t really a win over the Togolese team. Instead, they were playing a ‘fake’ team, with the official…
When Reina asks for patience, you know Liverpool are in trouble
Ahmed Bilal • Sep 14 2010Jose Reina has always been the optimistic one – for several years, every year Liverpool’s title challenge would falter only for Reina to trot out the most optimistic of predictions,…
Premier League Squads
Ahmed Bilal • Sep 8 2010Premier League rules state that each club must submit a squad, maximum 25 players, containing eight home-grown players (players trained in England or Wales for 36 months before the age…
Arsenal Fan Share – Premier League’s version of MyFootballClub
Ahmed Bilal • Apr 8 2023As I write this, the Arsenal Fan Share website is down, thanks to poor choice of web hosting (they really went cheap here) and a deluge of traffic from excited…