Across the UK, the US, and beyond, anti-immigration rhetoric and far-right ideologies have marched into the mainstream.
Just weeks ago, more than 100,000 people filled London’s streets in a rally organised by white supremacists, underscoring the scale of this shift.
With some polls showing that 30 per cent of the public would back the nationalist Reform party at the next election, ethnic minority communities in the UK are deeply concerned.
In this climate, what role can sport play in easing divisions?
This was the premise for the latest episode, in which I was joined by two brilliant guests.

• Sanjay Bhandari MBE wears many hats across UK sport - as Chair of Kick It Out, Super League Basketball and Athletics Ventures, Sanjay has been at the forefront of pushing for fairer representation, opening doors for ethnic minorities, and making sure leadership in sport and business better reflects the communities they serve.

  
  

• Javan Odegah brings the connective tissue to Leaders in Sport, where he shapes partnerships and programmes with a real focus on inclusion, diversity and equity. His work is all about making sure big conversations in sport translate into genuine impact, both inside organisations and across the wider industry.
  

This is an episode I have wanted to record for some time, and it was genuinely fascinating to understand the perspectives of two professionals who are committed to driving equality and inclusion through sport.
We discuss sport’s responsibility to make spaces more inclusive, the important work of groups like Kick It Out, and how football so often goes hand in hand with politics and national pride.
We also get into why ‘taking the knee’ seemed to lose momentum, and whether gestures can still be powerful or needed at this time.

The World Cup has always been about far more than football.
From Mussolini’s Italy in 1934 to Qatar in 2022, the tournament has provided a global stage where politics, power, and image collide.

In the latest episode of The Sports Marketeer podcast, I’m joined by Jonathan Wilson - one of the most influential voices in football journalism and the author of The Power and the Glory: A New History of the World Cup.

With the 2026 World Cup set to take place in the USA, Canada and Mexico at a time of societal polarisation and strained global relations around issues such as immigration and the economy, many are predicting that we are heading for the most political World Cup yet.

Check out the episode to hear Jonathan's take on:

-The tournament’s legacy across continents. From the USA in 1994 to South Africa in 2010, Russia in 2018, and Qatar in 2022, every World Cup carries both cultural triumphs and political baggage.

-How Italia 1990 heralded a new era for football in Europe

-How the 1970 World Cup gave football it's first truly global audience

-What to expect from US President Donald Trump at next year's event

-Whether 2026 will be a success for the USA

-Lessons from history and how sponsors should approach the tournament

For this episode of The Sports Marketeer, I caught up with Louise Bach, Global Sponsorship Director at Carlsberg, about the brand’s iconic 30+ year partnership with Liverpool FC.
Louise is one of the most accomplished sponsorship professionals I have come across in the business and it was fascinating to understand more about what makes her tick and the strategy behind a collaboration that has been venerated for years.

We explored how the Liverpool FC partnership helped Carlsberg accelerate its global growth in the 1990s, the club’s deep ties to Scandinavia, and the brand’s commitment to responsible marketing -including thoughtful decisions around Player of the Match awards and alcohol-free celebrations.

For example, Carlsberg are very respect of the religious beliefs of Mohamed Salah, while they also recently benefitted from players such as Alisson Becker, who enjoyed his celebratory moment with a Carlsberg during Liverpool's title celebrations.

Louise shares insights into Carlsberg’s innovative fan-first campaigns, capitalising on Liverpool’s title celebrations, how they adapt to industry shifts like Gen Z drinking less, and the rise of 0.0 beer. The conversation also covers Carlsberg’s growing investment in women’s football, their recently-announced UEFA sponsorship, and Louise’s passion for empowering women in sports business.

I got together with Mundo NFL presenter Martin del Palacio and digital marketing director James Hamlin to explore the cultural impact of America's biggest sporting event and global growth of the NFL.

This special episode features a session I ran at MKTG Sports + Entertainment’s London office recently, with the former professional cricketer and anti-racism campaigner Azeem Rafiq. 

We had around 70 guests including leaders at the ECB and counties including Surrey, Middlesex and Somerset, as well representatives from some of the sponsors of the game including Vitality and Sage.

I hope you enjoy the episode. 

What makes Simone Biles the world's most marketable athlete?

How is Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr the most appealing footballer to brands ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?

What will happen to the global appeal of Formula One when Lewis Hamilton retires?

I got together with Michael Long, editorial director of SportsPro and Subomi Odanye, CEO Divrse Media to explore what it takes to become a global, culturally relevant and, therefore, marketable athlete in 2024.

Check out the full list of the world's most marketable athletes at:

https://50mm.sportspro.com/

How are fans engaging with Euro 2024 online?

I got together with two brilliant industry experts at hotel MUNDIAL in Hackney to discuss all things content and marketing around the Euros...

Daniyal Khan is a presenter and content creator. He has worked with clubs including Arsenal, he’s also often on Sky’s Saturday Social and now has own show on BBC1 - Gameday Gourmet, where he explores the best matchday eats. 

Minal Modha is Head of Sport at Ampere Analysis, specialising  Media Rights, Sponsorship and Consumer Research. 

The three of us explored a range of subjects.

Nike or adidas, ITV or BBC? Which brands, broadcasters and content creators are nailing it, why Hellmans should double down on Jack Grealish and why Gareth Southgate's value to England goes beyond the pitch...

For brands and rights holders in sport interested in future-proofing themselves and unlocking new revenue streams, understanding how to connect and engage with Gen-Z audiences is vital.

Content creators are at the vanguard of connecting with younger fans, taking a data-driven approach and serving up authenticity on the social platforms which resonate with a new generation of fans.

I recently got together with three experts in this exciting, evolving space for a panel at SportsPro live in front of an audience of industry professionals.
Arthur Guisasola, International Sports Partnership Lead at TIkTok, works closely with brands and rights holders in sport.

Shebahn Aherne, is a broadcaster, presenter and podcaster, working with DAZN and talkSport.

And Mark Goldbridge is a YouTuber, presenter and the founder of The United Stand and That's Football.

We covered a range of subjects including how brands can engage with content creators, why traditional media outlets are increasingly adopting a fan channel style approach as well as busting some myths around Gen-Z fans.

From World Cups to Olympics, the Daily Mail's Shekhar Bhatia and former BBC Sports Editor Mihir Bose have covered some of the biggest stories and events in sport and beyond.

As they release their respective memoirs, I caught up with two of Fleet Street's finest to explore how to break through barriers, overcome prejudice and make your name in journalism.

Cadbury have successfully utilised partnerships in football to deliver on values such as generosity and kindness.

No more so was this evident, than with the brand's partnership with Grenfell Athletic FC, which has led to 14 different clubs across the UK helping to create a common ground for the community organisation.

Purpose-driven marketing requires shared values, authentic connections and a commitment to deliver beyond the storytelling.

I joined Rupert Taylor, founder of Grenfell Athletic FC and Chris Parker, brand manager at Cadbury, to go inside the campaign.