Football Rebels Returns for World Cup Fans on Al Jazeera

With World Cup fever about to start in earnest, Football Rebels, hosted by Eric Cantona, returns to Al Jazeera, shining a spotlight on some of the more unusual stories of football heroes. It profiles five sportsmen whose social conscience led them to use their influence to challenge unjust regimes.

Football Rebels: Didier Drogba and the Ivorian Civil War
In 2006 ex-Chelsea legend Didier Drogba used his influence as a footballer to call on the Ivory Coast’s President Gbagbo to end the civil war that had ravaged his home country.  He also made a desperate plea for his countrymen to lay down their weapons, resulting in a ceasefire after five years of conflict.
14 June 22.30 GMT | 15 June 09.30 GMT | 16 June 03.30 GMT | 17 June 16.30 GMT 

Football Rebels: Socrates and the Corinthians Democracy movement
Popularly known as ‘the Doctor’, for having gained a degree in medicine, Socrates combined his attacking midfield skills with his revolutionary political beliefs.  Along with his teammates, he transformed every match into a political statement.  His support for democracy helped ordinary Brazilians, living through a military dictatorship in the 1980s, realise that they could have a voice too.
17 & 21 June 22.30 GMT | 18 & 22 June 09.30 GMT | 19 & 23 June 03.30 GMT | 20 & 24 June 16.30 GMT

Football Rebels: Predrag Pasic and the Siege of Sarajevo
As war raged across the remains of Yugoslavia, former international footballer Predrag Pasic decided to stay in Sarajevo, despite the bombs, to open a multi-ethnic football school, Bubamara.  His brave stand against the sectarian atmosphere, created by civil  war, gave many youngsters the chance to learn the philosophy of unity and teamwork through sport.
24 and 28 June 22.30 GMT | 25 and 29 June 09.30 GMT | 26 and 30 June 03.30 GMT | 27 June and 1 July 16.30 GMT

Football Rebels: Carlos Caszely and The Demise of Allende starts on 1 July 2014, while Rachid Mekhloufi and the FLN Team starts on 8 July 2014.