What The Taliban's Takeover Means For Football In Afghanistan

[@skatinho9883]

The way Alfie explains Geo Politics and Football is too good 🤌

[@MattyHain11]

Wonderful, you always have a way to explain geo-politics with a perspective of football.

[@TheStuartGibson]

Watching this was so sad for me. When the war on terror started I was 18 and about to join the British army, I'm glad I didn't go through with it, something was soo wrong with it at the time. Fast forward to now, I work alongside 2 amazing afghan ladies, both sisters, one of them just got married in December in Afghanistan and was in the process of getting her husband an Irish visa, it was declined, then when kabul fell it was granted. Sadly her husband is still at kabul airport with no way to his new home to meet his wife who he only spent a few weeks with. She is an amazing young woman and I hope for her sake she gets her husband to safety. Thank you for making this video, it brings to perspective that it is not just war, but that so many young women and girls will go through so much harm and hurt. I'm fed up of seeing the comments like where are all the women and children in posts. If people don't know, they are hiding for their lives

[@musab.k.9870]

Sorry for asking, but any updates on your co-worker's husband predicament?

[@stuartygibson7079]

@@musab.k.9870 he is still stuck there. All post offices are closed so he has no way of getting any correspondence in regards to leaving the country.

[@musab.k.9870]

@@stuartygibson7079 Bruh, that sucks. Hopefully he's ok.

[@anomalie7367]

at one hand i feel sorrry at the other i feel like ur lying

[@TheStuartGibson]

@@anomalie7367 feel what you like,

[@gabdie7188]

Classic Alfie-HITC Sevens video! Always loved these types of content. Hope you can also do a video about football and its mental side. You know, about depression, anxiety, on why footballers fall out of love of football, etc.

[@martinheskins496]

Para Olympic athletes from Afghanistan have just arrived in Tokyo in time to take part. This is thanks to Australian support. They have been offered refugee status in Australia and after competing will travel to Adelaide.

[@FootballDrawn]

My favorite bed-time story teller is here. Brilliant video as always. Love how you combine the geo-politics and football. Hope Afghanistan recovers from this ⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽

[@moumenrezaei1330]

loool...loved that first sentence😀

[@7bucksnutrition303]

sadly, they have to deal with bigger priorities than football

[@wilfordcolbert1333]

you both have good eyes for football stories. Love both your channel

[@jeremybilliards712]

love your content dude 🔥

[@DR3ADER1]

They won't. Get real. Afghanistan was fucked from the very start. From the Soviet invasions back in the late-70s to the rise of the Taliban via the Mujahadeen.

[@victorcarvalho8048]

I never thought I would cry watching one of Alfie's videos. Yet here I am, with misty eyes. this breaks my heart.

[@ashutoshnair6410]

Another brilliant video Alfie!! Thanks for sharing this information

[@boii6569]

I hope afghans footballer never give up

[@marnuscoreyempanadaslooseb6760]

Well the Afghani’s just gave up and allowed the Taliban to walk in and America let them walk in as well.

[@hamzasarodiya3359]

Big James Cousins I’m pretty sure that they had the recourses and military that a strong stable country would have Oh Wait Gl Afghanistan I hope they are ok

[@GOTHICxLEPRICON]

The situation in Afghanistan just proves how much of embarrassment U.K and U.S foreign policy is.

[@lillexus5589]

Defeated by a self created enemy

[@blackniall8509]

@@lillexus5589 No Obama armed isis The taliban have been since before the west stuck their nose in I mean Russia invaded in the 80s

[@willywonka7812]

@@blackniall8509 that's like saying a CEO is culpable for following company policy

[@nsagoogle9581]

A policy dictated by the industrial military complex and Israel.

[@willywonka7812]

@@nsagoogle9581 Israel is like a foreign office in the Corporate States of America

[@the_one_the_only4651]

Alfie can you do a video documenting the rise and fall of Oldham Athletic and how they managed to go from being founding members of the Premier League and having competed in the top-flight at recently as 1994 to now favourites to get relegated out of the Football League altogether here in 2021?

[@user-mb3dx5fl9f]

You can watch any documentary on Theresa May's career and it will give you the same overall spirit. Both situations seem to have ended up in an equally hopeless and miserable way.

[@mehdiali9846]

Thank you for this video. As an Afghan refugee myself and a long follower of this channel, my respect for you has grown immensely.

[@nicocorbo4153]

Thank you for this video. The circumstance in Afghanistan are certainly a disheartening topic, but increasing awareness about the humanitarian crises and our possible role in solving the crisis is crucial. Great Video

[@lancashire468]

Another great vid! Loving these

[@tardy8545]

Another excellent job Alfie. Proud of you. You never need to apologize for speaking your truth. Much respect and love.

[@BootlegSonicToy]

Thanks!

[@HITCSevens]

Thanks Cabra, very kind of you!

[@pratikraj4384]

Hey alfie, could you please do a video about the system at bvb? How they manage to be an undisputed champions league side despite selling their best players?

[@nemomukerji]

Halland halland

[@soujatya2439]

@@nemomukerji we'll sell haaland in the next 2yrs and still be an undisputed UCL side

[@nemomukerji]

@@soujatya2439 ye dotmund has a great academy

[@greninjafw]

@@nemomukerji not their academy, but rather their consistently excellent signings

[@nemomukerji]

@@greninjafw ok

[@zerofox641]

I came in prepared to cry yet am still surprised how misty-eyed I am. Alfie does a better job teaching me about politics through football than any of my professors ever did. Another great video, albeit a very sad one. Then again most of these stories are rather sad but given this one is unfolding right in front of our eyes it seems to hit home a lot more than others.

[@robertperrella4194]

HITC SEVENS videos are ALWAYS top notch first class !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@tristanramsaroop9776]

I used to play astroturf football with two afghan brothers back in the day. Hands down they were actually the some best footballers I have ever seen in my life, obviously bar the professionals you see on tv but they could have genuinely been professional. Incredible touch, shot technique they were always a class above us, It’s a shame.

[@satanshameer690]

Taliban has historically favoured cricket over football. They even tried to ban football because they thought wearing shorts is Haram

[@DungNguyen-dk8wm]

So Taliban hate women,love cricket… Taliban’s Afghanistan = India 2.0

[@satanshameer690]

@@DungNguyen-dk8wm more like Pakistan 2.0

[@OliverJamesReed]

As a football fan and afghan, I appreciate seeing this video

[@OliverJamesReed]

@@thomaskendell8146 who uses their real name online?

[@OliverJamesReed]

Besides, my real name is dari, which is persian, not arab

[@essor7981]

@@thomaskendell8146 Afghans are not arabs

[@yeetpotatoes69420]

@@thomaskendell8146 when you fail basic geography

[@indianastones6032]

@@yeetpotatoes69420 I don't think he could have made himself look anymore stupid even if he tried!!!

[@Tdr-jv2nc]

Such a shame as they actually have some decent young players coming through

[@DR3ADER1]

It stops becoming "such a shame" when you actually observe history. It was inevitable. Hope is for fools and clowns on a good day. Despair is long-term, only Gravity and Money outlasts Despair.

[@wewayouthere]

@@DR3ADER1 man so dark

[@Steven-uk2fz]

@@DR3ADER1 You're cheery

[@DR3ADER1]

@@Steven-uk2fz The correct term is "Realistically observant".

[@bubbli2360]

@@DR3ADER1 bet you're fun at parties

[@Desb-ui9vx]

Another great video Alfie, I don’t often comment on KZbin but I had a video suggestion (hope it’s not been done lol), I thought a video on allegations of s/a and r*pe against footballers and the ignorance of fans would be interesting. The Ronaldo move has brought back a plethora of information and seeing the stuff he’s admitted to as well?? It’s insane that no one seems to care. Obviously this treatment towards the topic isn’t solely a football thing, but it says a lot about how people like John terry and Ryan giggs and Cristiano can do literally anything and get away with it AND still be adored by fans, just because of their footballing contributions.

[@lemonscaughtin4k877]

Oh dear it is a true alfie twin

[@shipu302]

To be fair Giggs seems to be getting a lot of shit now that he actually got arrested. Ronaldo has gotten away with it because of that whole issue of using illegally obtained documents as evidence and there's no away he sets foot in the US again.

[@Desb-ui9vx]

@@lemonscaughtin4k877 pipe down lad

[@lemonscaughtin4k877]

@@Desb-ui9vx What it was a compliment of your intellect calm down

[@robinthom6438]

Normally don't comment but yet again a fantastic video Alfie. Appreciate every single one and the work you put in

[@ryanellis3945]

You study international relations in uni? These videos are so quality in so many regards and are honestly solid academic contributions. Keep it up!

[@francomartini4328]

Well done Alfie. A socially conscious video from a KZbinr who covers sport is a rare thing indeed. During 2010/11, I worked at the Refugee Council in Brixton, a national charity set up to help refugees and asylum seekers largely staffed by volunteers. Following the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001, many NGOs such as Save the Children, etc., flooded into the country and managed to get the Blair government to accept a large number of Afghan minors, mostly boys in the 8-15 year old age range, on the basis that the nation was a war zone. (The Taliban were deposed but they never went away.) By the time that I went to work in Brixton, the Tories had come to power and Theresa May was Home Secretary. The first thing that the Cameron/Osborne regime did was to decree an across the board 20% cut to public spending. For the Refugee Council this meant an end to the substantial part of their income which came from government funding (resulting in 2012 in the closure of all their offices and the letting go of all their staff other than those who agreed to stay on without pay.) For the Afghan kids that they helped, the consequences of the Tory rise to power and the inauguration of May's "Hostile Environment" policy were even more serious, I would say life-threatening. Where Blair had salved his conscience by allowing refugee children to come to this country, the idea was never to integrate them into our society. This meant that those kids were kept totally dependent on social structures such as local councils and charities such as the Refugee Council. May's Hostile Environment meant that the Home Office was pursuing an active campaign to repatriate all the Afghan refugees using their 18th birthday as a trigger regardless of whether they had arrived here in primary school age, whether their parents was still alive or not, whether they had any relatives who could and were willing to take them in, and the fact that they were being sent back to a war zone with no money and often no place to live.

[@footballocks4063]

The research you've put into this is incredible. Well done. The 4000 girls who are not going to be able play anymore and most likely in danger is heartbreaking.

[@joelfarley9305]

I hope that the W-League (women's A-league) holds a draft to help the refugees onto professional football teams

[@mrivorish3200]

Well done, Alfie, a very insightful video. You continuously offer us information that the mainstream football media is afraid to discuss. Keep it up

[@bambo8001]

I have been wondering about that thanks for the video

[@alejoq420]

I really enjoy your videos. They give, not only, a political and a human perspective, but the fact that you are always impartial and always focus on the facts and the reality of the topic, rather than commenting on speculations or biased opinions, which would be something easier to do, and would give you more likes or subscriptions, is something that I personally admire. You don't see this kind of investigation journalism any longer.

[@derekevans1932]

Another great and thoughtful video especially your thoughts about female sport in Afghanistan and your comparison with countries not so far from there might be the way to ensure that the progress of recent years remains.

[@Pantalaimon91]

Another excellent video Alfie. Your ability to discuss complex geo-political topics while remaining fairly neutral and focusing in through the lens of sport is amazing. PS. You don't have to apologize for the video being fairly dark as there isn't much light right now when discussing the topic. I felt there was an appropriate amount of optimism and hope mixed in with the reality and horror that is going on, and what is to come.

[@michaelay4900]

Day 5: Best XI made of club captains.

[@DomenBremecXCVI]

Question: Could any of the photos used in the video be used against the women athletes, as you stated at 8:20 that they should delete their own photos of them playing?

[@johncabbage6080]

yeah, bit of an oversight

[@archstanton6102]

He gets his photos from Getty images, so they are freely available there

[@DomenBremecXCVI]

@@johncabbage6080 I'd say it's on Getty Images to remove the photos from their website and block their use as they have the ability to do so, Alfie shouldn't worry about potentially harming someone quite a few thousand kilometres away. It's just a remark, not a critique.

[@willcraig937]

Well reported, well judged and well played my friend. Your videos are a credit to you and the people who brought you up.

[@calebmufcthompson]

If I were a footballer or manager, or anything to do with football, I'd probably urge to get my fixtures overturned if I had to play Afghanistan internationally or an Afghan league side as I feel they'll more than likely try to launch a power play, possibly against a bigger country/ club with more well known players, just to send some kind of message

[@declangaming24]

The Afghanistan national team will have to play at neutral venues and be drawn against countries that aren't close to Afghanistan.

[@archstanton6102]

Not excusing the Taliban's persecution of women in any way. But FIFA allows some members to only have male teams, such as Saudi Arabia and certainly Brunei. I am unsure about other Islamic nations. If FIFA was serious about gender equality then they should say to have a male team in international tournaments you must also have a female team.

[@andrenunez371]

FIFA can’t force sports on a nation that runs by religion instead of politics

[@archstanton6102]

@@andrenunez371 They can force them.as to how they run their football. FIFA has done this in many states.

[@yongbin8184]

@@archstanton6102 only to a certain extent, remember Middle Eastern nations aren’t exactly the most friendly nations and are quite hostile

[@basicallyhamm8395]

I don’t think there’s ever been a bad HITC Sevens video

[@shawnmason5551]

Thanks for making this video.

[@luca7311]

You're a world class content machine mate, jesus. Keep at it

[@thomascarroll9556]

Well done Alphie, no need to apologise for the downbeat nature of your report, it’s absolutely heartbreaking that these women athletes will have to expunge any evidence of the involvement and achievement in sport. Unfortunately as we know once things are on the web they never disappear, no doubt the taliban will have been monitoring their involvement for the sole objective of taking extreme reprisals against them, and they won’t really be bothered if they even get the right women, as their plan is to terrorise women (and the general population) into the backward way of misogynistic fundamentalist Islamic thinking, murder by way of public execution being their preferred technique.

[@thegrumpyguy1043]

As ever, an excellent and extremely relevant video. Thank you

[@UmGajoDasCaldas]

Another amazing vídeo! Congrats! I would love a "What happened to Fábio Paim" video. He was bigger than Ronaldo when we were kids (I played against both of them) and even Ronaldo himself told people that when he first arrived in Man United !!

[@robwashers]

I love the way you can simplify complex hundred year old issues into a few minutes. I am far too busy and apathetic to the research myself. The thousands of books published on Afghanistan are all well over 100 pages

[@javiermiron1351]

I have to wake up at 6am to work but I can wait, thanks for the upload !

[@Lemonpudding890]

Video idea: Every prem teams player who they need in their prime like man u, matic or de Gea , Arsenal , Auba or Leno

[@Panda1989]

Another excellent video Alfie. Very sad and sombre contemporary topic. Felt you covered matters in a very solemn and dignified manner. Video request pls (something on the more lighter side)… The Coupe de France. Surely the weirdest cup competition in the world, which clubs from French overseas territories are entitled to compete. So you can have mainland French amateur/semi-pro clubs travelling many thousands of air miles to play an Overseas-Mainland tie in Tahiti Or New Caledonia say!

[@Mark-uh3un]

Another amazing video. Very sad what is happening in Afganistan

[@peripatetic8839]

That was refreshing. Thank you

[@मृदुलशर्मा]

That girl's picture at 19:10 broke my heart. 😢

[@sahiblindberg]

Man, that last photo is just heartbreaking

[@neffalum]

Stone age is coming back🔥🔥

[@archstanton6102]

And stonings

[@johnmcdonald9295]

This is what the Afghans want,

[@archstanton6102]

@@johnmcdonald9295 Really? They all want this? Or just a few heavily armed religions extremists?

[@johnmcdonald9295]

@@archstanton6102 who cares ,they have been living cushy the last 20 years,their population has grown from 21 million in 2001 to 39 million,now the honeymoon is over,and of course they want to live under sharia,it’s allahs law ,besides they have unlimited heroin,they r very lucky

[@archstanton6102]

@@johnmcdonald9295 I am.sure you are just trolling as no one is really that dumb to think life in Afghanistan has been cushy for 20 years. Part of the reason for population growth is the return of hundreds of thousands of refugees who left under the taliban before 2001. Seeing your other comments on the video. I don't think this channel is the right one for you. Perhaps stick to Briebart news. Unless you can give fact checked evidence for the population wanting to give up loving with freedoms to live under Sharia law, your comments make little sense?

[@EduardoGrassoTV]

Sadly the closest Talibans are from sports is throwing stones at women showing their ankles

[@adityavenkatesan5423]

Afghans have a really good NT last time we( India) played them we labored for a 1-1 draw only because of an OG by Afghan GK

[@adityavenkatesan5423]

calm down bro I never said we are bad.. I just hope their football grows as a whole and now its stopped due to the ... u know. We need strong south Asian teams to play against ps ik afg r now in caf

[@Heimerh]

I'm from Bangladesh and Afghanistans football team is better than us bcoz of our corrupt football board

[@damonm113]

Thanks for the vid. Maybe think about podcasts. I am new to your channel but I generally don't watch the images. Your videos are that good I can just listen.

[@sympa_is_misanthropic]

Very depressing indeed Alfie Brilliant video though

[@salvadoracosta4510]

Not the lightest topic but that Jack Wilshire reference was good! 👍🏼

[@nohopesaloon]

great video mate making important content when it matters!

[@suzannelooms7658]

Excellent & good tribute to the Afghan footballer who died trying to flee the country.

[@southernpacific7200]

This is a dark era for Afghanistan football, especially the public execution of women during halftime at football games. I'm glad Afghan women found a safer life in Denmark, Australia, and elsewhere where human rights are consistent.

[@dancastell5202]

If you made a channel dedicated to telling story’s of history or current events I would watch every single one

[@AndyNigel762]

Love these videos Alfie

[@yemi3266]

It is nice that you added the story of Nadia Nadim ; people should talk more about the positives of accepting refugees.

[@johnmcdonald9295]

They should b encouraged to go to Muslim countries

[@GTAVictor9128]

Many people are unaware, but even Luka Modrić, one of the greatest Real Madrid midfielders of all time, was a refugee of the Yugoslavian separation war.

[@niksv4165]

Day 196: Ways to fix VAR with your suggestions

[@ernestojrodriguez8565]

Thanks for this video... 💪

[@yusufkassim8236]

Day 2: The rise and fall of gretna fc

[@Fakshat1212]

good one

[@Pineapple69]

Sounds interesting

[@jacobjohnson1123]

Wow. Spectacular video!

[@Maj1794]

Very interesting topic 👍🏼👌🏽

[@tichardm9233]

This video was freaking amazing 👏

[@philreed3983]

everyone else in football...... "ronaldo.... ronaldo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ronaldo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" alfie "so lets talk about afghan football" this is why hitc sevens is the best

[@dryxgaming9161]

Could you please made video about Indonesian Football and why they underachieved? (im Indonesian BTW)

[@OfficialFingazMC]

They have football there? Is it played with a severed head...?

[@Mikey114467]

Another banger from alfie 👌

[@davidgomez982]

Brilliant video 👏👏

[@Alliegator93]

can you please take down this video and reupload it with the faces heavily blurred? You could be potentially putting these people at risk. sorry for the downer but its true

[@louielouie95]

This Would Have Never Happened If The US Base Wouldn't Leave Afghanistan

[@arzhi_azis]

Day 108: Indonesia XI If All Eligible Players Had Declared For Them

[@straightedgechannel584]

Keep dreaming bocah

[@brandonhey7797]

All Indonesian

[@23bitchris60]

No one gives a shit

[@Chrispyy22]

hey it would be great if u can include your sources in the description because your informational videos like this inspire me and aid in completing assignments for my sports management courses

[@Chrispyy22]

i also dont know how keen my professors would be if I use a youtube video as a source too lol

[@kindmulberry7196]

Day 3: The rise and fall of Chievo Verona

[@nabodabo1235]

hey could you do a football manager lets play channel?

[@frankiegoh84]

The Afghan women football team is scheduled to take part in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifier from 23-29 Sep 21. They were drawn into Group B, where the matches will be played in Tajikistan. Other than the host, they will also play Vietnam and Maldives. Will be interesting to see what happen then.

[@whyareyouusinglightmode2098]

They could escape from there so the Taliban don't do that stuff

[@thomassjostrand]

Great video!

[@wewayouthere]

I’ve been riding along with you for awhile now

[@ally_crawford]

Nice tribute to the young man. A horrible end. Thanks Alfie

[@stephen123470]

What happened to Panathinaikos?

[@Lemonpudding890]

Video idea: How man United ruined Juan Mata career, one of the most underrated talents to ever grace the prem, in the 12/13 season he scored 19 goals and 35 assists at the age of 23, he was everything that Bruno is now just better

[@aspapiroki6215]

Did man united ruin man united?

[@Lemonpudding890]

I meant to say Juan mata

[@Lemonpudding890]

@@aspapiroki6215 thanks

[@KimiFan2002]

Day 3: Please can you do a video on Romenov’s Hearts reign

[@Elliot-T]

Wow, I hope things change for the better for these people.

[@callmedavid9696]

Their cricket side advanced quickly as well

[@lndhold6609]

Thank you for the video, Alfie. This might be a bit over-the-top, but what do you think of blurring out the faces of the athletes in the video?

[@loganvandyk7090]

Wow, imagine that… a public execution at halftime 😑

[@danielkarmy4893]

I actually think allowing athletes to compete freely, and therefore travel to competitions, could provide a very welcome route out of the country for those athletes. That's how horrific this situation is.

[@johnmcdonald9295]

Yes,let them go to Muslim countries

[@jessejuffer6916]

Can you do something about conference league?

[@chriswoodtoarsenal]

Day 27: where would a team of Alfie Potts Harmer lookalikes finish in the premier league?

[@TTVFails]

nice video

[@markkilmartin352]

Great vid massive shame you had to make it

[@Rapidz4ak]

I WAS FROZEN IN CYRO SLEEP FROM 2001 UNTIL NOW WHAT HAPPENED