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
51 episodes
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
The Politics of Maradona Part 2: Diego and the City of Naples ft. Luca Bifulco
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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40:19
The Politics of Maradona Part 1: Diego as a Global Icon ft. Mariano Paz
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 t...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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32:11
What's Coming Up in 2024's 'Summer of Sport'? ft. Nicola Sbetti.
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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47:29
Ukraine's football under the Russian shadow ft. Olga Ruzhelnyk
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
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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46:06
'More than a club, a whole people'. Deportivo Palestino ft. Jose Nabzo and Siri Schwabe
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. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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40:33
How is climate change affecting football? ft. Leslie Mabon.
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
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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35:46
Israel's War on Gaza and Palestinian Football
Amidst the ongoing Israeli attack on Gaza, football might seem a secondary and even irrelevant aspect. Yet football offers a ghastly testimony of the destruction caused by the Israeli attack on Gaza, as well as the dynamics of occupation of Pal...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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41:19
Match fit. Mental health and football ft. Johnnie Lowery
Mental health is a growing issue in football but suffers from being seen as a taboo subject. Co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to writer Johnnie Lowery who has published a new book, Match Fit, looking at how mental health affects footballer...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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33:02
Unsafe bet? The politics of gambling in football ft. Steve Menary
Football has a gambling problem. In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to award winning investigative journalist Steve Menary about the growth of gambling in the sport, from the football clubs who take the industry's money to the way...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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35:35
Fan activism and gender politics in Brazil ft. Luisa Turbino Torres
Brazilian football is famous for its noisy and passionate supporters. But Brazilian football fans are not only passionate, they also have a long tradition of political activism. In this episode co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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46:04
"Bring me that horizon". The politics of Portuguese football ft. Miguel Lourenço Pereira
How much does the geography and politics of a country influence the development of its football culture? In this episode co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to journalist Miguel Lourenço Pereira about football and politics in one of Europe's most f...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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45:16
What is political in modern football? ft. Cas Mudde
What makes modern football political? And what is the role of football in civil society? In this episode co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to Cas Mudde, political scientist, football fan and enthusiastic groundhopper. Cas points to various devel...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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35:28
From the boardrooms to government: the politics of football in Thailand ft. Arjin Thongyuukong and Matt Riley
How entwined is football and politics in Thailand? Guy and Francesco talk to Thai scholar Arjin Thongyuukong and UK journalist Matt Riley about the origins and development of the game in Thailand. Matt and Arjin discuss the rise of the na...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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38:46
"If he scores another few, then I'll be Muslim too!" The politics of Liverpool's Salah ft. Salma Mousa
Footballers are global icons, and Mo Salah is probably the most famous Arab and Muslim one today. But does Salah's popularity affect the way that Muslims (and Arabs) are perceived? Guy and Francesco speak to
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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39:06
Insta-FootPol. What's up with England's new football shirt? ft. Alex Ireland
In this brand new bonus edition format, Guy and Francesco explore topical issues around football that have a political dimension with the help of an expert. In this episode, Alex Ireland, football writer and football kits connoisseur, talks abo...
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Season 1
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16:32
Football, communities and inclusivity ft. Fulham Lillies and New York International FC
Can football be more inclusive and embrace groups that have traditionally been left out from the game? In our latest episode, Guy and Francesco learn what some football clubs and fan groups are doing in the UK and US. They talk to Sarah Keig an...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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42:09