Rephonic
Artwork for Sport Unlocked

Sport Unlocked

Sports News Insiders
FIFA
World Cup
Premier League
Club World Cup
Donald Trump
Gianni Infantino
Manchester City
UEFA
Saudi Arabia
Olympics
Manchester United
Chelsea
International Olympic Committee
Chelsea FC
2026 World Cup
Racism
African Cup Of Nations
IOC
Qatar
Israel

From the pitches to the boardrooms, the stories behind the big decisions by sports leaders affecting every fan. Featuring sports news insiders Rob Harris, Martyn Ziegler, Tariq Panja and more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes248Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Sport Unlocked

Latest Episodes

Episode 248 of Sport Unlocked, the podcast dissecting the week's sports news issues. On the agenda on June 18, 2026 with Rob Harris, Martyn Ziegler and Tariq Panja at the World Cup:

* Assessing FIFA and Gianni Infantino's handling of World Cup week... more

YouTube

Episode 247 of Sport Unlocked, the podcast dissecting the week's sports news issues. On the agenda on June 5, 2026 with Rob Harris, Martyn Ziegler and Tariq Panja:

* Can the World Cup be a success? Inside FIFA's challenges, fan anger and teams' fru... more

Episode 246 of Sport Unlocked, the podcast dissecting the week's sports news issues. On the agenda on May 22, 2026 with Rob Harris, Martyn Ziegler and Tariq Panja:

* FIFA VP Dominguez ethics complaint over cash; UEFA qualifying changes; Spygate - E... more

Episode 245 of Sport Unlocked, the podcast dissecting the week's sports news issues. On the agenda on May 15, 2026 with Rob Harris, Martyn Ziegler and Tariq Panja:

* Football spying; Pérez Madrid outbursts; World Cup halftime show; FIFA pushes Chin... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Jibril Rajoub
Palestine Football Association President
Palestine Football Association
Episode: Saudis cut LIV; Inside FIFA Congress - Infantino's Israeli-Palestinian photo op backfires, excusing Afghan discrimination, action on racism, launching re-election bid.
Bassam Suleiman
Vice President of the Israeli Football Association
Israeli Football Association
Episode: Saudis cut LIV; Inside FIFA Congress - Infantino's Israeli-Palestinian photo op backfires, excusing Afghan discrimination, action on racism, launching re-election bid.
Graham Dunbar
Correspondent from Associated Press
Associated Press
Episode: World Cup greed - even FIFA’s angry; Saudi sports boom ending? Can LIV survive without PIF?
Yaw Ofosu
Reporter from sub-Saharan Africa
Episode: African football disrespected?; FIFA sells World Cup to betting sites; Winter Olympics worker death
Patrice Motsepe
CAF President discussing AFCON changes
Confederation of African Football
Episode: Did Europe force major AFCON change; Fans get World Cup prices cut; Will Abramovich accept UK govt demands?; Women's Club WC calendar clash; FIFA Peace Prize White House influence
Keir Starmer
UK politician discussing government demands on Abramovich
Labour Party
Episode: Did Europe force major AFCON change; Fans get World Cup prices cut; Will Abramovich accept UK govt demands?; Women's Club WC calendar clash; FIFA Peace Prize White House influence
Nasser Majali
Secretary General of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association
Episode: FIFA Peace Prize & Infantino plea: "We should all support" Trump; Less Chelsea sale cash to war victims; Police reveal why Israeli fans banned; Islamic Solidarity Games - Saudis readying Olympic bid?
Matty Peet
Head coach of Wigan Warriors in Rugby League
Episode: UEFA banning Israel?; 64-team World Cup talks; All change in PL meetings; Afghanistan women's team; F1 crash legal action; Rugby league interview
Nick De Marco
Sports lawyer representing Lucas Paqueta in the FA case.
Episode: Power in transfer window; FA’s flawed fixing Paqueta case; Fans unite against league games overseas

Hosts

Rob Harris
Host of Sport Unlocked and Sky News journalist; central figure across episodes.
Tariq Panja
Co-host/Reporter with NYT/AP background; frequent contributor across episodes.
Martyn Ziegler
Co-host/Editor; Chief Sports Reporter at The Times.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 89 ratings
  • I love it

    My favorite sports podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PendelendePapa
    Belgium2 years ago
  • Excellent podcast, can’t wait for the next

    Excellent podcast, can’t wait for the next

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Harry-10
    Ireland4 years ago
  • Sport Unlocked

    Top-class podcast. Great to hear intelligent debate and fascinating insight into the top sporting stories. Brilliant guests too but it would be even better if there was more NBA.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RobStewartuk
    United Kingdom5 years ago
  • If You Miss BBC 5 Live Sportsweek…..

    Sport Unlocked fills the gap created by the sad demise of the BBC 5 Live Sportsweek programme/podcast with Garry Richardson. All the main stories concisely reported in less than an hour. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @johntingey
    United Kingdom5 years ago
  • Love the pod, love the Panj ❤️

    ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gonzogoon
    Australia5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows strong journalism pedigree and thoughtful discussion, good for listeners who want depth and accountability.
Well-sourced reporting with high-caliber guests and insider context.
The show is a reliable source for understanding the business side of sport and governance, with practical implications for brands and sponsors.
Insightful, industry-focused analysis that goes beyond surface sports news.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#242
Saudi Arabia/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Banning trans women from women's football; How much should a sports CEO be paid?; FIFA warning on $60k World Cup tickets; Infantino at Pope's funeral; Barca finances; Nottingham Forest ownership
Q: Did they have to do this as a result of the Supreme Court verdict, or is this a choice?
There was a sense of fear in legal challenges that the FA could face if they didn't introduce the blanket ban.
Future of Olympics - Kirsty Coventry elected IOC president. Impact on sport, Trump & Russia; FIFA's Club World Cup disarray; Tennis players challenge authorities; George Foreman remembered
Q: How will you address the challenges regarding transgender athletes competing in the Olympics?
Coventry mentioned the creation of a task force to look at transgender issues and the protection of the female category, promising a collective decision from the IOC will be made clear.
Future of Olympics - Kirsty Coventry elected IOC president. Impact on sport, Trump & Russia; FIFA's Club World Cup disarray; Tennis players challenge authorities; George Foreman remembered
Q: What is your message to the world regarding safety during the Olympic Games?
Coventry emphasized the importance of communication and expressed that the Olympic Games should be significant and successful for everyone, focusing on ensuring every qualified athlete can safely attend.
Infantino takes our Qs; FIFA rejects trans ban calls for now; IFAB reforms; Inside football summit; Rugby league in Vegas
Q: When can we expect to hear something about the FA's transgender policy?
Bullingham states they believe they are broadly in the right place and continue to refine their approach.
Infantino takes our Qs; FIFA rejects trans ban calls for now; IFAB reforms; Inside football summit; Rugby league in Vegas
Q: Why have you decided to go so close to Trump and the Trump family?
Infantino argues that maintaining a close relationship with the President is vital for organizing World Cups successfully.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Sport Unlocked

What is Sport Unlocked about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-paced, insight-rich roundtable focused on the business, governance, and politics of sport. Episodes frequently examine FIFA and world football governance, global sponsorship and broadcasting dynamics, and the influence of state-backed investment on leagues and events. Notable discussions span ticket pricing controversies, World Cup logistics, and high-stakes decisions by sport leaders, with frontline reporting and analysis from seasoned reporters who cover global sport as a business. The format often combines breaking news with in-depth context, guest perspectives, and behind-the-scenes angles on how decisions in boardrooms and capitals ripple down to fans, clubs, and sponsors. A standout trait is the reliance on top-tier editors and... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Sport Unlocked?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Sport Unlocked. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Sport Unlocked and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Sport Unlocked get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Sport Unlocked, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Sport Unlocked?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Sport Unlocked, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Sport Unlocked have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sport Unlocked has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Sport Unlocked?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sport Unlocked:

1. Libero
2. The Price of Football
3. The Athletic FC Podcast
4. The Football Boardroom
5. Football Daily

How many episodes of Sport Unlocked are there?

Sport Unlocked launched 5 years ago and published 248 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Sport Unlocked?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Sport Unlocked?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sport Unlocked from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Sport Unlocked?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Sport Unlocked. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Sport Unlocked?

Recent guests on Sport Unlocked include:

1. Jibril Rajoub
2. Bassam Suleiman
3. Graham Dunbar
4. Yaw Ofosu
5. Patrice Motsepe
6. Keir Starmer
7. Nasser Majali
8. Matty Peet

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days