This weeks interview features Marc Owen Jones, Assistant Professor for Middle Eastern Studies at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar. Mark's specialises in the field of social media disinformation He spoke with @ginolasleftfoot about its growing presence in football's ever complex landscape.

Mark breaks down the evolution of social media disinformation and how it is being weaponized to distort narratives in the world of football.

Further reading of Mark's work can be found here.

As always, you can follow and subscribe to Race to the Bottom Podcast here.

The take over of Newcastle Utd by the state wealth fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia is imminent. It casts a tremendous shadow over the morality of football. Many human rights organisations have spoken out against the proposed purchased of the historical North Eastern football club. Amnesty International, Fairsquare and Human Rights Foundation are among several bodies to have issued statements to the EPL's CEO Richard Masters, in hope of preventing the takeover going through.

Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer of The Independent, spoke with @RTTBPodcast about the issues regarding the takeover.

You can follow via @RTTBPodcast and subscribe here.

This week I spoke with Amanda Jacks of @FSA_Faircop . We discuss the recent report that facial recognition technology was used in conjunction with traditional policing methods during the recent Swansea vs Cardiff match.

The topic proves a difficult one to currently assess as little legislation or governance exists to monitor or regulate it's use. This link from the Home Office gives an overview of the current framework of FRT's use and highlights the role of South Swales Police trialling live facial recognition ( LFR ) .

Privacy rights organisations such as Liberty and @BigBrotherwatch have campaigned extensively to ensure the rise of invasive data surveillance is limited and monitored. Football fans will need to be aware of the growing possibility that in time, sporting events will testing stations for digital screening.

This is a deep read from BigBrotherWatch's site regarding Scotland's use of facial recognition technology which they worked on with Open Rights Group.

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In this week's episode, I talk with Rachel Bachman, Senior Sports Writer for the Wall Street Journal, about her recent findings concerning the profit and cost status of the Womens World Cup '19.

Rachel discusses the implications of an error in the FIFA financial report, and its wider reaching effects.

You can find more of Rachel's work at the @wsj and via @BachmanScore.

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A stand off has arisen in the MLS over a ruling that Portland Timbers fans, mainly those of the Timbers Army, along with all who attend MLS matches, cannot fly the Iron Front Symbol, due to its political connotations and links with the Antifa movement.

Race to the Bottom spoke with Professor Jules Boykoff of Portland University, to unpack the wider implications of the MLS's stance and activism's growing voice in sport.

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Friday, August the 23rd will for most of us be regular day. If you support Bury FC, it will not be a regular day. It will be the day when perhaps one of the oldest clubs in the world, ceases to exist. When generations of loyal, loving Shakers fans will see their club removed from the Football League.

Peter Taylor, writer and blogger of the excellent burymeinexile.com shares his thoughts and feelings regarding his beloved Bury FC.

Should you wish to subscribe to Race to the Bottom podcasts, you can do so here, and here and also here.

Dan Leydon is a man who's work you will have seen. If you love football that is. Nike, ESPN, BTSport, Liverpool to name a few. Dan's unique style of art has exploded through Twitter and Instagram. And his iconic images have become symbolic with football's interwoven relationship with social media.

Speaking with Dan gave me an enormous insight to the level of commitment that illustrators put themselves through before their work finally reaches the point of it being received by the public.

Those of you who haven't come across Dan's work, should request to be allowed out of your cave and check him out. dan.leydon.com , @dan.leydon on Twitter and Instagram @danleydon .

I appreciate all listeners and subscribers to Race to the Bottom Podcast . Any who haven't yet subscribed can do so here.

This week's episode focusses on the work of Human Rights researcher and reporter, Nic McGeehan. His wealth of knowledge on the Man City take-over in September 2008 hones in on the issues of governance and morality. Nic's work with Human Rights Watch and Open Democracy highlights the paradox of perennial human rights abusers and their acceptance into the lauded platform of elite football club ownership. He was previously the Bahrain, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates researcher at Human Rights Watch and having lived in the U.A.E for a number of years is a voice to be listened regarding these matters.

I highly recommend a read of Nic's football related articles and his work at @HRW .

Those of you who listen and enjoy the podcast can download and subscribe here.

The pay-gap between men's and women's football has risen to the top of the sport's agenda. Players from the USWNT are demanding equal pay for their sporting achievements spurred on by the most commercially successful Women's World Cup . Their fight for equal pay has been a long worn journey, but may finally be coming to a positive resolution.

If you have listened to Episode 4 I discuss Lewes FC's approcach to equality. Led by players such as Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo , law suits have been filed. These women are challenging the entrenched stereotype that women should earn less than men. What is clear, is that these women have no intention of putting up with it anymore. Their feet have done the business on the pitch and it's now time for the deal makers of the game to do the same.

As the growth of the women’s game continues, I look at the sexual abuse case affecting the Afghanistan Women’s National Team. Brought to the media’s attention by ex player Khalida Popal, several squad players sought Popal out to confide in her regarding them being sexually abused by head of Afghanistan Football Federation Keramuudin Kerim. I talk about whether the football world is doing enough to protect players at risk of exploitation.