The Upshot

Join us as we dish out the only gongs more worthless than Fifa’s peace prize. LINKS FROM THE POD: Lamine Yamal party: https://x.com/JackMacCFB/status/1944719886992744913 Emmanuel Petit announces Pat Rice’s death: https://x.com/AlleyMatty/status/1881478083313906032  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Jerry Springer’s threesomes to infiltrating the Taliban, this is the story of The Fake Sheikh… Mazher Mahmood has been caught out using the claims of a serial fantasist to flog a bollocks story about Posh Spice being kidnapped. And his downfall has only just begun… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plus: Samuel Eto’o’s AFCON meltdown and a knife-wielding Sunderland striker. Get tickets to to the Upshot’s Live shows in April: https://www.livenation.co.uk/the-upshot-live-tickets-adp1637635 We’re hiring! Apply for the role as The Upshot’s new video producer: https://www.upshot.email/p/we-re-hiring-a-video-producer-36e9  Download SAILY in your app store and use our code UPSHOT at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/upshot  Join The Upshot’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/upshottowers   (Sign up in your browser, not the patreon app - it’s cheaper). Links from the pod: Kolkata riot: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1plfmgo/ani_fans_at_salt_lake_stadium_got_angry_with_the Statue unveiling: https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/12/12/12/104672397-15377981-image-a-45_1765543002051.jpg Hola Messi fanzone: https://assets.telegraphindia.com/telegraph/2025/Dec/1765375010_hola-messi-1.gif Suarez nutmeg: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1pmfjzm/suarez_got_nutmegged_by_a_teen_indian_girl/?utm_source=www.upshot.email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=i-see-a-snake&_bhlid=16c820a8f979cb6080947e9b36af165b189dceb7 Nitin Kumar walking out: https://www.tiktok.com/@thedarter88/video/7583727677526396193  Killing the Ally Pally wasp: https://x.com/MarkWilsonRadio/status/2000235018254459016 Cameron Menzies meltdown: https://x.com/_shaunmiller_/status/2000578781082251448 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dubai, 2006. Sven Goran Eriksson sips Dom Perignon with an Arabian prince on the deck of a 70ft superyacht.But Sven’s white-robed companion is no oil-rich Emir: it’s the Fake Sheikh.For three devious decades, the tabloid hack lived life undercover, exposing everyone from murderous GPs to Mick Jagger.From Jerry Springer’s threesomes to infiltrating the Taliban, this is the story of The Fake Sheikh… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re hiring! Apply for the role as The Upshot’s new video producer: https://www.upshot.email/p/we-re-hiring-a-video-producer-36e9 Plus: England’s Ashes flops are throwing cash at Aussie children and why 70s hit YMCA is NOT a gay songEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/upshot Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌐Get tickets to to the Upshot’s Live shows in April: https://www.livenation.co.uk/the-upshot-live-tickets-adp1637635Join The Upshot’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/upshottowers (Sign up in your browser, not the patreon app - it’s cheaper).Links from the pod:Rio Ferdinand’s awful banter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P03LgqfQ4BA Conor McGregor teaching Mike Tyson to box: https://x.com/HappyPunch/status/1997749158711894184And looking coked off his nut: https://x.com/GeneralBohs/status/1997793388016636392  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Britain already has a royal family.But if the entire Windsor bloodline is ever wiped out in a freak yachting accident, there’s a ready made replacement.The Beckhams.For two glorious decades, Victoria, David and their offspring have ruled the worlds of music, sport and bacon sandwich making.From shagging on trains to necking cups of bleach, this is the story of the other Beckhams…Watch Finlay Christie’s stand up special, Aura Farmer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oQiTfnFNUQ Links from the pod: Brooklyn’s bacon sandwich on NBC: https://metro.co.uk/video/brooklyn-beckham-cooks-english-breakfast-sandwich-2518705/ Cruz’s music: https://wwsw.tiktok.com/@cruzbeckham/video/7452826349779160352  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get tickets to to the Upshot’s Live shows in April: https://www.livenation.co.uk/the-upshot-live-tickets-adp1637635Plus: The BBC colleague who drove Wayne Rooney to get the snip and Jamie Redknapp’s secret alter ego for picking up girlsDownload SAILY in your app store and use our code UPSHOT at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase! For further details go to https://saily.com/upshot Links from the pod:Troy Parrott’s missed panenka: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1paoohe/troy_parrott_penalty_miss_vs_twente_908_at_10/ Vietnam’s intervision entry: https://youtu.be/EIqntldQyE0?si=9MEw4Wzb-2sQyVK2&t=61 Wayne Rooney on Mr Tumble: https://youtu.be/Ad2w_WgZhB8?si=GblGv5FHHWpBpLRC&t=159 In case you don’t know Mr Tumble: https://youtu.be/jMwbHIQRVME?si=bCyD1r1CvFphHXCX&t=300 Paul Chuckle’s gangster movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AHwNkf4_QI Gary Lineker in Mexico with his daughter-in-law: https://x.com/GaryLineker/status/1995172259494056379 Ajax fans mental pyrotechnics: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRss_VCkrDm  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The name Kevin Keegan should conjure images of glittering European nights, mazy dribbles and Balon d’Or wins.But for most people, football’s unluckiest icon is remembered for four words: I WOULD LOVE IT.And he’s had plenty of bad luck.He was beaten up by drug dealers, discovered Father Christmas’ lifeless corpse, and got shot in the face with a bow and arrow.From undercover gigolos to getting banged up in Serbia, this is his story…Links from the pod: Green Cross code ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE8Lk2kSCDoScoring in FA Cup final: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=gagQcslGM0t59KHN&t=223&v=xFY67LtZn-0&feature=youtu.beHis hit single: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJdW7-MnXtc&t=21sI would love it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=ip99jIR-GKnNQwij&t=5&v=mk87a7r0V60&feature=youtu.beWill he score: http://www.youtube.com/watch?si=1-R7l9C-zzx9NIfq&t=9&v=k6Bupc_sE4g&feature=youtu.be Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Terry's campaign to free Charles Bronson takes center stage, with the hosts diving into the bizarre support from celebrities. They recount wild stories, including Newcastle fans' antics in Marseille's toilets and a retired Olympian's troubling transformation into a drug kingpin. Legal shenanigans unfold with a lawyer accused of advising a murder. Meanwhile, Javier Tebas battles illegal streaming in football, and an eagle handling controversy shakes up Lazio. Expect humor, chaos, and a surprising amount of sports-related mischief!

Joel Golby, a British writer and cultural commentator, dives into the outrageous life of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He recounts Zlatan’s wild childhood in Malmö, which included bike thefts and a hot-dog stand explosion. From his rebellious days at FBK Balkan to becoming a football sensation, Golby shares anecdotes about Zlatan’s time at Ajax, his notorious antics, and his iconic overhead kick against England. The conversation also touches on his turbulent relationships, gaming obsession, and the complexities of his legacy as a football icon.