蜜芽传媒

John Murphy introduces insight, wit and analysis from 蜜芽传媒 correspondents around the world. In this edition: while Tim Mansel explores the political as well as sporting murk around the affairs of Turkish football club Fenerbahce, Julian May examines the complex ecology of lobsters (and the men who catch them) off the coast of Maine in the northeastern USA.

Off side?
It's supposed to be the beautiful game. Unfortunately, with so much money involved, allegations of corruption in football are serious business. Take one of Turkey's largest clubs, Fenerbahce: currently mired in a major match-fixing scandal. After crowd trouble in July, it was ordered to play the first two games of the season behind closed doors. Eventually the authorities relented for that second match but allowed just women and children to watch.

It seemed the national association had realised playing to an empty stadium just wasn't good for the image of Turkish football. And Tim Mansell agrees.

Lives of the lobstermen
The world's oceans have been suffering. Pollution, climate change and overfishing have all played a part. Environmental groups argue that almost three-quarters of the world's fisheries are now 'fully exploited,' 'over exploited' or 'significantly depleted.' And they're not just talking about fish. In Maine, in the north east United States, there's another seafood delicacy which has turned into an industry: the lobster, orange in the cooking pot but a beautiful dark blue in its natural habitat.

When Julian May visited Boothbay Harbor in Maine, he found the men who harvest lobster from the sea are convinced they're doing more good than harm to these fascinating creatures.