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PODCAST

The FootPol Podcast

Francesco Belcastro and Guy Burton

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

sports soccer

All Episodes

45:21

Football in a Time of War: Gaza, Iran, Sudan & DR Congo

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/06/30

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 GazaThe 12-day Israel–US conflict with IranThe Sudanese civil warThe advance of Rwanda-backed M23 forces in eastern DR CongoThe discussion looks at how these wars affect domestic leagues, players, and fans—as well as the wider political repercussions for n...

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47:41

Class Act: Football and the English Working Class ft....

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/06/23

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 “authentic” fandom and identity. Are traditional ties to the game only found further down the football ...

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41:10

When Goals Don't Matter: Gals FC ft. Nora Beqaj

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/06/16

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.

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55:54

Did Spain's World Cup win change society? ft....

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/06/09

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, the tension between women’s clubs that are affiliated with men’s teams versus independent outfits, and h...

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36:48

The Club World Cup and Women’s Euros and What’s at Stake

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/06/02

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 about the world beyond the pitch.

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41:36

Rage Sport: sport popolare, solidale e antifascista...

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/05/26

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.

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39:46

Rage Sport: People's sportswear against fascism...

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/05/26

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.

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42:36

Inside Indonesia's Football and Politics ft. Andy Fuller

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/05/19

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 Kanjuruhan Stadium in 2022—Andy offers sharp insights into the development of football in Indonesia...

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27:31

Pitching Ambition: The Rise and Risk of Non-League...

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/05/12

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 outside the English Football League. What makes non-league tick? What keeps it alive? And why do some c...

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47:41

Small Nation, Giant Game: Uruguay’s Football Story...

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/04/28

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 both domestically and abroad. The conversation charts the evolution of Uruguayan football after ...

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48:59

Football and identity in the MENA region ft. the...

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/04/21

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 wide-ranging conversation that explores the Gulf states' rising influence in global football (especi...

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59:27

Pasión, Politics & the Pitch: Spain's Football...

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/04/14

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 subtler, but still strategic, engagement with the game. They explore how ownership models shifted ...

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39:29

From community to climate justice. Bohemian FC ft....

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/04/07

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 community first. Sean also discusses other campaigns and activity carried out by this exceptional club....

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60:52

Kicking Down Barriers: Building Inclusivity through...

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/03/31

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' commitment to diversity to the broader challenges minorities face in football and society, Charl unpacks the re...

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35:39

Flying the Flag: The women who played football abroad...

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/03/24

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 brief preview of the upcoming Women Euros in Switzerland which takes place this summer. Carrie's book will be p...

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34:41

The Politics of FIFA's 2030 World Cup ft. Leslie Mabon

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/03/17

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 logistical challenges of the 2030 edition. They explore Morocco’s hosting ambitions against the backdrop...

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40:10

The Drama of Greek Football ft. Theofilos Pouliopoulos

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/03/10

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 with UEFA and FIFA and the absence of a legacy following Greece's 2004 Euros victory. The conve...

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49:53

Are football styles and tactics political? ft....

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/03/03

This week, Guy and Francesco sit down with football author and journalist Jonathan Wilson—Guardian columnist, Football Weekly contributor, editor of The 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 idea of national styles of play, the impact of globalization on football, and the political significa...

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39:02

The German Football Model: Politics, Fans, and the...

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/02/24

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 the role of the national football team as a source of national unity along with the de...

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43:21

Football's new home? The beautiful game in the Gulf...

The FootPol Podcast ·

2025/02/17

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 part of their long-term efforts to diversify their economies beyond oil and gas. From the legacy of ...

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106 results

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