The FootPol Podcast

Co-hosts Guy and Francesco reflect on the political stories that shaped football in 2024 and those likely to dominate 2025. Francesco highlights the Israel–Gaza war and its impact on football, as well as the ambivalence of sporting bodies to sanction Israel. Guy suggests football’s environmental footprint, citing the controversial decisions to host the 2030 World Cup across three continents and th...

FIFA has officially awarded the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, sparking debate among football fans and observers worldwide. In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco take a look at the decision with Aziz Alghashian, a Saudi academic and football enthusiast, and Stephen Cockburn, Deputy Director of Amnesty International. Aziz shares insights into how hosting the World Cup aligns with Saudi Arabi...

This week on the show, Guy is joined by Professor Daniel Memmer, a leading expert from the German Sport Institute in Cologne. Together, they dive deep into the evolving world of football analytics. Daniel sheds light on how cutting-edge technology and new data are revolutionizing the game, from player performance to club strategies. But it’s not just about the numbers! They explore how these advan...

In this week’s episode, hosts Guy and Francesco sit down with renowned social historian David Kynaston to explore the relationship between football and profound social changes that have shaped Britain since the Second World War. From shifts in class dynamics to cultural transformations, they delve into how these changes have both influenced and been mirrored in the beautiful game. David is in the...

20 years ago, Exeter City FC were in debt and at risk of disappearing. Their fans however did not accept losing their beloved club, so they stepped in and saved it against all odds. In this episode co-hosts Francesco and Guy speak to Nick Hawker, Chair of club and supporters trust, about the incredible journey of Exeter City FC. Nick talks about how the club is ran, how fans have a central role in...

Co-hosts Guy and Francesco look at the violent incidents surrounding the Ajax vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv match on November 7 and break down the Amsterdam mayor's council report, which outlines the sequence of events. They explore the different narratives that have emerged to frame the violence, from the initial reaction by mainstream media that painted the Israeli fans as victims, to the gradual em...

In this episode, Guy and Francesco tackle the world of e-football—a digital space where traditional sports and gaming intersect, creating unique political and economic challenges. To help them unpack this growing phenomenon, they’re joined by Tsukuba University’s Tsubasa Shinohara. Together, they explore how e-football is more than just a virtual kickabout; it’s a rapidly expanding industry with c...

This week co-hosts Guy and Francesco sit down with Professor Christos Kassimeris, a leading expert on racism in football. Together, they explore the roots and complexities of racism within the sport.  Professor Kassimeris provides valuable insights into the nature and definition of racism, shedding light on how it manifests within football. The conversation delves into the role of anti-racism camp...

How did football get to the island of Ireland? And is it a 'foreign' game? In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco are joined by historian James Quinn to dive into the intriguing journey of football on the island of Ireland. Together, they explore whether football is truly a "foreign" game and how it has woven itself into the cultural and political landscape of both the Rep...

Co-hosts Guy and Francesco dive into the world of away fandom, focusing on the experiences of female and LGBTQ+ supporters. Joining them is Penny Miles , a researcher from Bath University, who has been studying the challenges faced by marginalised fans following national football team in Wales (with a bit of Chile!). Together, they explore the current state of away fandom and the obstacles that th...

In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco explore the fascinating history of Swiss football with Zurich University's Professor Christian Koller, a Swiss scholar and expert on the subject. Switzerland’s rich linguistic and ethnic diversity, combined with its historic commitment to neutrality, has shaped the nation's football culture in unique ways. Professor Koller delves into the roots...

FIFA, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, is the sport institution that controls and regulates the world's most popular game. But how did it become the mega-organisation we know today? In this week's episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco dive deep into the history of FIFA as global football's governing body with historian Luiz Guilherme Burlamaqui and his book, &quo...

How did football - a game played by upper class gentlemen in Britain - become the world's most popular sport? How did it shift to becoming a game of the workers and the masses? And what social and political impact did the success of the game have? Co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to friend of the pod, Chris Lee, and host of his own podcast and football-related blog,  Outside Write . Chris, wh...

Exciting news this week as Football Heritage podcast host Rory Bryce joins Guy and Francesco to discuss the decline and disappearance of football clubs. With several years of experience hosting the Forgotten Football Clubs podcast, Rory shares valuable insights on identifying when a club is in trouble and strategies for recovery.  Rory also sheds light on his involvement in establishing the open-a...

Welcome back to the second season of the FootPol Podcast! This week, we dive into the latest political news in Football World. FIFA's recent non-decision on suspending Israel for its actions in Gaza and Argentine players facing backlash for racist chants are in the spotlight. Stay tuned as we discuss FIFA's plans to engage skeptical audiences for the expanded Club World Cup. Additionally...

We're back (briefly) from our summer break! Co-hosts Guy and Francesco break down the politics that's making the headlines in the wake of Spain's and Argentina's respective Euro and Copa America wins. They look at what's happened following Rodri's claim that "Gibraltar is Spanish" and the Spanish political right's response to seeing a multiracial team l...

How are nostalgia and melancholia connected to football? And are they 'political'? In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to Sheffield Hallam University's Jack Black about the meaning of the popular English football song, " It's Coming Home " and how melancholy and nostalgia are part and parcel of football culture in England and beyond. That sets up a wider...

Football plays a central role in many Latin American countries. In this episode, co-hosts Francesco and Guy talk with Jorge Knijnik , Associate Professor at Western Sydney University about his new book, Tales of  South American Football: Passion, Revolution and Glory . Jorge provides examples of how the beautiful game is entwined with the continent's politics and society. They include the act...

What does the general election in the UK mean for football? In this episode, one of the FootPol Podcast's favourite guests, Dr Christina Philippou returns to co-host a discussion on the subject with Mike Baker, director of advocacy at Fair Game . Christina and Mike explain the importance of the election for the future of football in the UK, from the Premier League to grassroots and women&apos...

No other football player has been as popular and yet also  divisive as Diego Armando Maradona. Few footballers can claim to have achieved the status of political icon like the Argentinian superstar. In the first of two episodes dedicated to the politics of Maradona, co-hosts Francesco and Guy speak to Mariano Paz , lecturer at the University of Limerick and a scholar who has researched different a...

Diego Maradona, arguably the greatest talent ever to grace a football pitch, played for several clubs as well as the Argentinian national team. His image, however, is closely tied to the city of Naples and its football club.  In the second of this week's double episodes on the politics of Diego Maradona, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to Italian sociologist and Napoli fan, Luca Bifulco . Luc...

We're about to enter what has been dubbed the 'Summer of Sport' given the number of high-profile events taking place, from the Euros to the Olympics and the Copa America. Football will therefore be at the forefront of many people's minds and to explore this, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to Nicola Sbetti , historian of sport at the University of Bologna in Italy about what th...

Ukraine is a country with a long and rich football tradition. Yet football, like all aspects of life, have been deeply affected by the Russian aggression against the country.  In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to Olga Ruzhelnyk , a Ukrainian researcher at the Institut des sciences sociales du politique in Paris. Olga explains how football is an important aspect of the recent history...

Football clubs often represents different identities: local, political, ethnic and sectarian. Deportivo Palestino , a football club in Chile, is distinct in the way its representation of Palestinian identity. In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to Siri Schwabe, associate professor of Anthropology at University of Copenhagen, and Jose Nabzo, press and media officer at Deportivo Palest...

The impact of climate change on football has frequently been in the news in recent years. The relationship between the beautiful game and the environment is however  complex and multi-faceted as explained by today's guest, Dr Leslie Mabon . Leslie, a lecturer in environmental systems at the Open University, explains to co-hosts Guy and Francesco how the impact of climate change on football is...