Politics and the pitch

For a few weeks every four years, the FIFA World Cup offers a break from global politics, societal divisions and everyday concerns as football fans worldwide rally behind their favorite teams.

University of Delaware political scientist Kassra Oskooii is more than a sideline fan of the world's most popular sport - he's a referee. And while he may not be on the global stage, the associate professor has spent nearly two decades officiating semi-professional, college and high school games throughout Delaware and the country, managing conflict between players, coaches and even parents.

It's a long way from his beginnings. The first time Oskooii played organized soccer was as a 10-year-old political refugee living in eastern Germany. It was tough to learn a vastly new style from what he played on the streets of his native Iran, but it offered a new appreciation for the sport and its ability to bring people from different backgrounds together.