The FootPol Podcast

West Africa is the home of exceptional footballing talent. In our latest episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to Ghanian journalist Gary Al-Smith to understand why the countries in the region - Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon - produce so many good footballers and how and why many of them end up in Europe. In the episode we learn what impact this has had on the domestic game and for clubs there, contrasting West Africa's experience to other parts of the continent, particularly the Arab North and Southern Africa. Gary also talks about football governance there and the extent to which governments seek influence within the game. Finally, we get Gary's tips on who will win the African Cup of Nations, starting later this week, as well as which teams and players to look out for!

Is the use of football in diplomacy a modern phenomenon? Or has sport always been used as a diplomatic tool? In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to Heather Dichter, Associate Professor at DeMonfort University specialising in sport history, with a focus on diplomacy and twentieth century Europe. Heather explains how the popularity of the game made it a unique diplomatic tool, and why the last decades have been a golden era for football diplomacy. Heather also discusses her research on sport in the Cold War era and in Germany, and the future of research in this field. 

December 29 marks the first anniversary of Pele's death. As one of the world's greatest football players, Pele's impact goes beyond the football pitch into politics, society and popular folklore. To discuss Pele's legacy in Brazil,  co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to Ana Paula da Silva, who studies race and gender at the Fluminense Federal University in Rio de Janeiro. Ana Paula explains how Pele was perceived and judged in terms of race and race relations during his career from the 1950s to the 1970s. She observes that he became a controversial figure to some, especially when compared to other important players of that time, like Garrincha and Paulo Cezar Caju. Ana Paula then discusses the subject of race and Brazilian football in the last decades, looking at developments among players and fans on the terraces, the impact and legacy of the 2014 World Cup and race relations during the right-wing presidency of Jair Bolsonaro (2019-22).

Ana Paula's study of the subject can be found in more detail in her book, available in Portuguese as Pele e o Complexo de Vira-Latas [Pele and the Mongrel Complex].

What has been the impact of the Qatar World Cup? Has the tournament been a success for the organisers, and what is its legacy in terms of human and particularly labour rights?  A year to the day after Lionel Messi's Argentina raised the trophy, co-hosts Guy and Francesco take a look at the reasons behind Qatar bidding for the World Cup and the immediate and long-term consequences of winning the hosting rights. As well as looking at the political and economic effects following the World Cup, they also talk to Stephen Cockburn of Amnesty International. Stephen provides insight regarding whether the migrant workers who built the infrastructure for the tournament have received justice and how the Qatar World Cup may contribute to more explicit reference and action on human rights at future sporting mega-events.

Belgium is known for its waffles, chocolates and beer. And arguably for its football. But what can the beautiful game tell us about the politics and history of the country?  Co-hosts Guy (himself a Brussel resident) and Francesco  talk to Scott Coyne, Mechelen fan and co-host of the Belgian Football Podcast, the world's premier English language show on the game there. Scott provides insight on how football first arrived in Belgium, who the big clubs are and the extent to which past economic developments and the Flemish-French linguistic divide have played out in terms of rivalries. He also explains how tensions have been dampened down around the national football team, Belgium's place in the European football hierarchy and the role that its youth development and academies play in relation to this.

Football in Saudi Arabia has been the subject of a lot attention in the last year due to the purchase of high profile players by Saudi teams. But how is the Saudi Pro League doing now that we're several months into the new season? Has it been successful so far? And what does the future of football look like in the Kingdom? To discuss this, co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to Aziz Alghassian and Eyad Alrefai, Saudi scholars and football fans. Aziz and Eyad discuss the football's domestic impact, particularly on Saudi Arabia's broader diversification strategy set out in Vision 2030. The panel also talks about the prospects for grassroots football and what hosting the 2034 World Cup may mean for the Kingdom. 

As the world game, how do diplomats relate to football? And how is football being used by states around the world to advance their global interests and influence? To discuss these questions, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to former British diplomat and now geopolitical commentator, Arthur Snell, about his experience of working for the UK Foreign Office in Nigeria, Trinidad & Tobago and other countries, and  whether the beautiful game played a role in his diplomatic career. Arthur also explains how football is central to Britain's soft power, which English team is surprisingly popular in Iraq and how football found its way into his podcast, Between the Lines and book, How Britain Broke the World, published by Canbury Press.

From Japan's and South Korea's heroics at past World Cups to the advent of global stars from the region, East Asia has made a splash in world football in recent years. The trajectory of the Chinese Super League, however, suggests that it's not all progress. In this episode Francesco and Guy spoke to Professor Seungbum Lee  of Akron University about the rise and fall of the Chinese Super League, the social impact of the beautiful game in different East Asian countries and the development of professional football in Japan and South Korea. Seungbum talks about the geopolitics of football in the region,  the K and J Leagues and their development in the last decades, and why his beloved football club is giving him heartbreak!    

In the last few years,  collecting football shirts has turned into a popular hobby for a growing number of fans. But are football kits only pretty patterns and shining colours? In this episode co-hosts Francesco and Guy talk to author Alex Ireland  about the politics and economics of football kits, from their development into contemporary fashion and leisure wear to how choices about sponsors, badges and players' numbers can be political.  Alex also discusses the differences between men's and women's playwear, the impact that produces all these polyester shirts is having on the environment and the ethical implications of choosing an authentic or counterfeit jersey.

For all this and more, do check out Alex's new book, Pretty Poly: The History of the Football Shirt, which is now out and available to buy.

Every football fan's worst nightmare is seeing their team go bust. But how likely is that to happen? While the English game has been able to attract significant capital, cases of clubs falling into financial hardship are frequent. In this episode co-hosts Guy and Francesco ask Portsmouth University's Christina Philippou  what is the state of English football clubs' financial health. Christina teaches accounting and finance and is an expert on the financial sustainability of football, having co-authored two reports on the subject for the British government. Christina explains what might the planned new regulator look like and cover and how does women's football in England compare to men's football.