The FootPol Podcast

In this episode of The FootPol Podcast , Guy and Francesco explore how war is disrupting football in 2025, focusing on conflicts that are ongoing or escalated this year. They examine: Israel’s war on Palestine and Palestinians, especially in Gaza The 12-day Israel–US conflict with Iran The Sudanese civil war The advance of Rwanda-backed M23 forces in eastern DR Congo The discussion looks at how th...

This week, Francesco and Guy are joined by Josh Bland, a research student at the University of Cambridge, to explore the enduring and evolving relationship between football and social class in England. Josh traces the historic connection between the working class and the beautiful game, and unpacks how today’s football—especially in its commercialised Premier League form—challenges ideas of “authe...

In this episode, Francesco and Guy speak to Nora Beqaj, co-founder of Gals FC, football's community of non-competitive football for women and non-binary people. Nora explains how the game looks like when goals don't count, and how Gals FC is bringing football to a lot of people who would otherwise not play the game. 

This week, Francesco and Guy are joined by Spanish scholars Fernando Gutiérrez-Chico and Aníbal Mesa López to explore the remarkable rise of women’s football in Spain. From La Roja’s 2023 World Cup triumph to the political fallout of the Rubiales scandal, this episode examines how the women's game is reshaping Spanish football and society. They discuss the evolution of the domestic league, th...

This summer brings two major football tournaments into the spotlight: the Club World Cup and the Women’s Euros. In this episode, Francesco and Guy unpack the global politics surrounding both competitions—from restrictive US visa policies affecting teams and fans, to the growing cultural and social impact of the women’s game. As always, it’s not just about the football, but what the game reveals ab...

In questo doppio episodio speciale italiano/inglese, Francesco intervista Maurizio Affuso, fondatore di Rage Sport,  marchio d'abbigliamento che veste lo sport popolare, solidale e antifascista. Maurizio racconta l'incredibile storia di RAGE, il suo legame con Clapton Community Football Club, e perche' per RAGE lo sport e' politica. 

In this special double episode, Francesco interviews Maurizio Affuso, founder of Rage Sport, sportswear brand that dresses 'sport popolare' (people's sport), anti-fascist clubs. Maurizio tells the story of how Rage Sport Started, the link with Clapton Community Football Club and why sport and politics are closely connected for RAGE sport.  

Co-hosts Guy and Francesco sit down with researcher, publisher and podcaster Andy Fuller—the mind behind Reading Sideways Press and Everyday Runners —for a deep dive into the work that he has previously done, on the complex world of Indonesian football. From vibrant stadiums packed with passionate fans to the darker sides of the beautiful game—corruption, mismanagement, and the deadly tragedy at K...

With the FA Vase and FA Trophy finals putting non-league football in the national spotlight at Wembley on Sunday 11 May—including a nail-biting outing for Guy’s own Aldershot Town FC—this week’s episode dives into the vibrant, volatile world of the English non-league game. Guy is joined by freelance journalist and non-league connoisseur Paul Caulfield to unpack the unique ecosystem of clubs outsid...

This week, Guy and Francesco are joined by Will Huddleston, who recently completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge, focusing on the early global success of Uruguayan football. Will unpacks how Uruguay — despite its small population — rose to international prominence as Olympic and World Cup champions in the 1920s and 1930, and how the national team’s triumphs became powerful political tools...

This week, Francesco switches seats—co-hosting and guesting—as he and Guy dive into a lively discussion about football in and from the Middle East, inspired by a brand-new report from the Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) Project at Lancaster University. Francesco is joined by fellow co-editor Javier Bordon, along with SEPAD directors Simon Mabon and Edward Wastnidge, for a wid...

In this episode, Guy and Francesco welcome back friend of the pod Miguel Lourenço Pereira to talk about his new book Pasión: A Journey to the Soul of Spanish Football   (out 21 April from Pitch Publishing). Together, they dive into the political, cultural, and social undercurrents that have shaped Spanish football—from Franco’s regime using the sport as soft propaganda to the democratic era’s subt...

This week, Guy and Francesco are joined by Sean McCabe, Head of Climate Justice and Sustainability at Bohemian FC - a member-owned football club since 1890 with a mission that goes far beyond the pitch. As the world’s first Head of Climate Justice and Sustainability in football, Sean shares how Bohemians are tackling the climate crisis through a justice-centered approach that puts the local commun...

This week Guy and Francesco discuss football activism with Charl Galloway, a consultant specializing in women's football and inclusive sports spaces. As chairperson of Cardiff Dragons FC, co-founder of the Women's Football Collective, and a key player in bringing the LGBTQ+ EuroGames to Cardiff in 2027, Charl shares their insights on making the game more inclusive. From the Dragons'...

This week Carrie Dunn , a journalist, academic and good friend of the podcast talks to Francesco and Guy about her latest book,'Flying the Flag.' Carrie explains why British female players moved abroad to pursue their footballing dreams and the various challenges they have faced over time to do this, from the amateur era of the past to today's professional one. She also gives a brie...

Why did FIFA award the 2030 World Cup to six countries across three continents—Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco? What political calculations shaped this unprecedented decision? And how prepared are these nations to host an expanded tournament? In this companion episode to their recent discussion on the 2034 World Cup , Guy and Francesco break down the political and logist...

 This week, Guy speaks with Theofilos Pouliopoulos , a project manager and sports consultant with deep expertise in Greek football. Theo unpacks the social origins of Greece’s football clubs and how politics has shaped the game—from the 1967-74 dictatorship to democracy and the post-financial crisis era. He explains why the Greek government intervened in football governance, leading to tensions wi...

This week, Guy and Francesco sit down with football author and journalist Jonathan Wilson—Guardian columnist, Football Weekly contributor, editor of T he Blizzard , and co-host of It Was What It Was . They discuss his acclaimed book, Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics , exploring how tactical evolution is shaped by the political cultures they emerge from. They also discuss the...

In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to Danyel Reiche  of Georgetown University Qatar about the German football model and more broadly about the relationship between football and politics in the country. Danyel discusses the 50+1 rule of ownership and how it influences the relationship between fans and clubs along with the exceptions that are Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg, as well as...

How is football being used as a tool of power and influence in the Gulf? This week, Guy and Francesco sit down with Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a scholar at Rice University and expert on the region, to unpack the strategic playbook behind Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE’s deep dive into the beautiful game. Kristian explains how these states leverage football not just for global prestige but as par...

This week, co-hosts Guy and Francesco sit down with Joe Short, a director at Lewes FC , to explore what makes this fan-owned club truly unique. Lewes FC is known not just for its community-driven ethos but also for its groundbreaking commitment to gender equality—allocating equal budgets to both its men's and women's teams. Joe shares insights into the club’s broader mission, from advoca...

This week co-hosts Francesco and Guy talk to Hassanane Balal, host and founder of the Iraqi Football Podcast. Hassanane explains how sport and politics are closely connected in the football-mad country, and in particular how football provided unity and hope during Iraq's darker days. Hassanane points to Iraq winning the Asian championship in 2007 as a key moment and discusses the role and imp...

This week Guy and Francesco talk to Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Chun Wing Lee about the game in Hong Kong and China. Wing Lee recounts how the game got started, first in Hong Kong and then southern China and how Hong Kong became the powerhouse of Asian football in the 1960s and 1970s with the continent’s first professional league. He then brings developments up to date, explaining why Hong...

This week co-hosts Guy and Francesco sit down with Yacov Zohn, a PhD candidate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to explore the fascinating history of football during the Soviet era and its evolution in post-Soviet Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia. Yacov talks about how Soviet football reflected the centralisation of power in Moscow under the party-state, the impact of political and economic s...

This week, Guy and Francesco are joined by Jung-Woo Lee from Edinburgh University to explore the fascinating intersection of football and politics in North and South Korea. Among the subjects covered in the episode include: the origins of football on the Korean peninsula and how it evolved in the North and South; the role of football in shaping national and political identities, including the comm...