The Remains of 39 Days

As it ended, the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup revived an old argument: Can the sport ever be walled off from politics? Trouble shadowed the tournament from its early days—a US president intervening to have a player’s ban lifted, the FIFA chief admitting he had fretted over Argentina’s possible exit, and a banner unfurled after a semi-final reasserting Argentina’s claim over the Falklands (Las Malvinas). All of this added to suspicions that refereeing and stagecraft alike tilted towards expedience. Not for nothing Argentina, playing presumably Lionel Messi's last World Cup, drew the fiercest scrutiny: rival fans and commentators pointed to contentious VAR decisions in matches against Egypt and England as evidence of favouritism, even as the US investigates the Argentine Football Association’s (AFA) finances.

Argentina’s bad behaviour after losing the final—Leandro Paredes swinging punches at celebrating Spain players, Nahuel Molina squaring up to Rodri, the team walking off without acknowledging the victors— has opened a fresh disciplinary inquiry by FIFA with possible consequence for the AFA too. Perhaps the problem is that FIFA itself politicised football by insisting on keeping politics out of it while implementing various versions of political correctness. After all, the polite Rodri himself had got into trouble after the 2024 Euro final by chanting Gibraltar was Spanish (Spain had just beaten England).

Odysseus the God

Christopher Nolan wouldn’t be displeased to learn, especially at this moment, that there was a cult on Ithaca that had worshipped the Homeric hero for almost a millennium. Last year, archaeologists from the University of Ioannina had zeroed in on the ruins of a complex hitherto called the School of Homer as the site of the Odysseion, a sanctuary for worshipping Odysseus. The key to the recent conclusions came from modern-day Turkey where a decree from the 3rd century BCE, discovered amidst Greek ruins in the 19th century, mentioned the so-called Odysseion as well as the Odysseia, Ithaca’s Odysseus festival. Excavations on Odysseus’ island home had begun in the late 19th century but the ongoing explorations have bolstered the evidence of earlier artefacts with the discovery of three roof tiles inscribed with Odysseus’ name. The protocol of inscribing “of Odysseus” follows the template for dedicating temples to other Greek gods. There are also votive offerings and bronze coins engraved with the mythical hero’s bearded profile. Archaeologists told the BBC that the artefacts dating from the 9th century BCE to the 2nd century CE, along with the new findings, are conclusive evidence the School of Homer was a public sanctuary for Odysseus worship.

Is JD Vance Antisemitic?

The US vice president is walking a thin line. He is on record for not mentioning Jews and Nazis in an International Holocaust Remembrance Day statement. He has downplayed antisemitism on the American right. Now, in what Tablet magazine calls a “grievance-fueled performance” on Joe Rogan’s podcast, JD Vance has lashed out at Jews, alleging “an Israeli-funded plot to undermine his negotiations with Iran” and the US government destroyed evidence that Jeffrey Epstein was a Mossad operative. The New York Times said Vance is “echoing conspiracy theories”. Vance has had his eye on 2028 from Day One. But in trying to lock-in conservative support, he is dividing the GOP and perhaps damaging his candidature beyond recovery.