The FootPol Podcast
The podcast that brings together football and politics. We'll be exploring the relationship between the two, both inside and outside the game.
The podcast covers "Big Politics" like politicians, clubs, international and national federations and other organised groups and how they use or abuse the game to "Small, Everyday Politics" in the form of community-level clubs, fan associations and the way that football reflects the political challenges of our day to day lives.
The FootPol Podcast is brought to you by co-hosts Drs Francesco Belcastro and Guy Burton.
Episodes
67 episodes
Football's new home? The beautiful game in the Gulf ft. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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43:21
Playing for equality: Lewes FC ft. Joe Short
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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40:35
The Beautiful Game in Troubled Times: Iraq’s Football Saga ft. Hassanane Balal
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 u...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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39:45
The Dragon's kick: Football and Politics in Hong Kong and China ft. Chun Wing Lee
This week, co-hosts Guy and Francesco dive into the fascinating history of football in Hong Kong and mainland China with Chun Wing Lee, lecturer at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Together, they trace the game’s journey from its colonial begi...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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41:14
Socialist soccer? The beautiful game in the USSR and after its collapse ft. Yacov Zohn
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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34:50
Two Koreas, Two Goals: The Politics of Football ft. Jung-Woo Lee
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 footb...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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52:46
What may be football's political battle grounds in 2025?
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 sa...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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28:47
FIFA's 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia ft. Aziz Alghashian and Stephen Cockburn
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 foot...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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45:46
The Politics of Data in Football ft. Daniel Memmert
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 technol...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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35:13
British history, social changes and football ft. David Kynaston
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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44:48
Power to the fans. The Exeter City FC story
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 Hawke...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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33:25
FootPol special: Amsterdam's long night.
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 narrat...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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37:02
What is e-football and how is it political? ft. Tsubasa Shinohara
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 T...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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38:30
Can Racism Be Kicked Out of Football? ft. Christos Kassimeris
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 v...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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57:09
No Foreign Game. Politics and Football in Ireland ft. James Quinn
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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49:35
Can fan culture become more inclusive? The case of Wales ft. Penny Miles
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 Ba...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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52:56
Football and Politics in Switzerland ft. Christian Koller
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, co...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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56:18
When FIFA Went Global ft. Luiz Guilherme Burlamaqui
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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44:45
The origins of the beautiful game ft. Chris Lee
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 ha...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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35:26
Why do football clubs collapse? ft. Football Heritage's Rory Bryce
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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45:36
FootPol Returns! Season Two Opener
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 rac...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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34:40
Insta-FootPol. Political Fallout! Euros, Copa America and Israel/FIFA Edition
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 Rodr...
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Season 1
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28:13
Can Football Ever Come Home? Nostalgia, melancholia and the beautiful game ft. Jack Black
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 J...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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48:22
Tales of South American football ft. Jorge Knijnik
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 West...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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53:36
Football and the British Election ft. Co-Host Christina Philippou and Fair Game's Mike Baker
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
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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47:00