Ben Mapp Journalism

In December 2022, the world watched arguably the greatest football match of all time as Argentina defeated France to win the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. However, behind this eternal classic lie human rights issues, allegations of worker exploitation, horrendous treatment of LGBTQ+ citizens, and a complete lack of political freedom. The term sportswashing entered the public eye, as Qatar, and many other nations, attempt to use sport to improve its global perception. Sportswashing examples are easy to find in a contemporary society, but the term has deep historical roots. Aimed to improve public perception and distract from ongoing societal issues, sportswashing has been used for decades. One of the earliest examples occurred during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, as Adolf Hitler used the event as a political platform to push forward the Nazi ideology. Nazi Germany aimed to present itself as a peaceful, friendly nation, completely disregarding the party’s oppression of many ethnic and social ...

Gary McCann has won 44 matches as Billericay Town manager since joining the club in April 2023, but ten victories stand out above the rest. From last-gasp winners to patched-up sides, dominant thrashings and higher-level scalps, here are McCann’s ten best wins as Blues manager so far. #1 - Billericay Town 3-1 Tamworth – FA Trophy 2 nd  Round – 18 th  November 2023 Arguably the most complete performance of the McCann era, as The Blues swept past the National League North leaders at New Lodge. A first-half stunner from Alfie Cerulli, followed by second-half strikes from Bradley Stevenson and Moses Emmanuel, rendered Ty Deacon’s stoppage-time goal nothing but a consolation. Tamworth went onto win the National League North and became McCann’s second higher-division scalp in as many months. #2 - Wingate & Finchley 0-1 Billericay Town - Isthmian Premier League – 7 th  December 2024 Amidst the high winds and heavy rain of Storm Darragh, it was 4 th  versus 3 rd ...

Climate change has reached a point where it’s actively influencing sports. From dangerous playing conditions to outright postponements, here are ten times climate change influenced sporting events around the world. 1 – 2014 Australian Open – Extreme Heat The 2014 Australian Open witnessed temperatures reach 43 degrees Celsius in Melbourne. The extreme heat took a severe toll, with Canadian player Frank Dancevic collapsing mid-match and later describing the conditions as “inhumane.” Ball kids were also treated for heatstroke and exhaustion, leading to matches being paused – though many argued the event wasn’t paused quick enough. Despite this, organisers insisted that play continued due to safe humidity levels, with Roger Federer agreeing with this decision, pointing out that adequate training should be enough to cope with the heat. 2 – 2017 Delhi Test Match – Air Pollution During the third Test between India and Sri Lanka in 2017, dangerous air quality disrupted the game, forci...

When the full-time whistle blew on Billericay Town’s 2023/24 season, manager Gary McCann and 1,400 Blues supporters looked on, grappling with what might have been. Just three points separated their team from a playoff spot – a bitter pill to swallow for a club with promotion aspirations. The campaign’s cruellest moment came in March, when Wingate & Finchley’s  Joseph Boachie struck in the 99 th  minute to condemn Town to their seventh defeat in eight matches. It was a dagger to the heart of a side desperate to escape the Isthmian Premier League – yet one factor stands out as the catalyst for it all. For McCann, who took charge in April 2023, and head physio Mark Findley, it was another chapter in the reality of life at a semi-professional football club. Since their arrival, McCann, Findley, and the management team have faced every challenge the non-league scene can throw up: fixture congestion, star players poached by higher-league clubs, and the constant weight of expecta...

The Premier League’s broadcasting strategy needs a major rethink. The current situation, with games scattered across Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Amazon Prime, it’s not just an inconvenience, it’s creating a negative viewing experience. On top of the £58 per month the average UK football fan already forks out for access to games shown on Sky and TNT, they must now pay an additional £8.99 per month for Amazon Prime’s coverage – a total exceeding £700 per year to watch domestic football alone. This total doesn’t even include further subscriptions like ESPN, Premier Sports, or Viaplay. Comparing this with other nations - in Germany, fans can watch the Bundesliga through Sky Deutschland for around €30 per month. Spain offers La Liga coverage through DAZN and Movistar at similar rates, and even in the United States, where sports broadcasting is often criticised, every MLS game is broadcast live for just $14.99 per month via Apple TV. So why are British fans paying so much more? In a so...

Formula One is recognised worldwide for its innovation, entertainment and breakneck speeds - but this comes at a cost. With an annual carbon footprint of over 250,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, F1 exemplifies the connection between environmental challenges and elite-level sport. As climate change accelerates, the sport is already feeling its impact, forcing the FIA, teams, and drivers to adapt - or risk losing the race against time. F1’s environmental issues are deeply rooted in its history. Since the inaugural World Championship in 1950, the sport has showcased high-performance, fuel-intensive machines on a global stage, with sustainability consistently low on the list of priorities. Early environmental concerns were overlooked as the focus remained on speed, engineering, and entertainment. The 2014 introduction of hybrid engines marked a key milestone in F1’s history. These power units, which combine internal combustion engines with electric energy recovery systems, reduced fuel c...