110. Why do Authoritarian Countries Buy Football Clubs?: Saudi Arabia and the Purchase of Newcastle United! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Thinking in English

Content provided by Thomas Wilkinson. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Thomas Wilkinson or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

2+ y ago 20:14

M4A•Episode home

At the beginning of October, English football club Newcastle United were taken over by a Saudi Arabian supported investment fund, and over night became one of the world’s richest sport teams. But why do authoritarian governments like to buy football clubs? Let’s discuss this, and learn some new vocabulary, on today’s episode of Thinking in English!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/10/18/110-why-do-authoritarian-countries-buy-football-clubs-saudi-arabias-purchase-of-newcastle-united-english-vocabulary-lesson/

Vocabulary List

Takeover (n) – a situation in which a company gets control of another company by buying enough of its shares

The company has decided not to go through with the takeover of its smaller rival

Dispute (n) – an argument or disagreement, especially an official one

India and Pakistan nearly went to war over a border dispute

Rumoured (adj) – used to describe an unofficial, interesting story or piece of news that might be true or invented, and that is communicated quickly from person to person

The rumoured plan to sell the company never actually took place

Asset (n) – something valuable belonging to a person or organization that can be used for the payment of debts

A company’s assets can consist of cash, investments, specialist knowledge, or copyright material

To diversify (v) – to start producing a range of different types of products or services, or to invest in a range of different investments, in order to reduce risk

Farmers are increasingly diversifying into other activities to supplement their incomes

Piracy (n) – the act of illegally copying a computer program, music, a film etc, and selling it

Record companies have tried to combat internet piracy

Distract (v) – to make someone stop giving their attention to something

Stop distracting your sister from her studies!

Authoritarian (adj) – demanding that people obey completely and refusing to allow them freedom to act as they wish

That country has struggled economically under an authoritarian leader

Oligarch (n) – one of a small group of powerful people who control a country or an industry

The story of how new Russian oligarchs amassed enormous fortunes when the Soviet Union broke up is fascinating

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support

361 episodes

#Learning English #Podcasting Education #Language Learning #Thinking In English #English Vocabularies

110. Why do Authoritarian Countries Buy Football Clubs?: Saudi Arabia and the Purchase of Newcastle United! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Thinking in English

446 subscribers

published 2+ y ago