The FootPol Podcast

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 Rodri's claim that "Gibraltar is Spanish" and the Spanish political right's response to seeing a multiracial team lift the trophy. They also examine the response by Argentina's political leaders to Argentine player Enzo Fernandez's racist and transphobic chanting against the French national team, while Guy offers an insight into Argentina's racial minorities and their treatment. Finally Francesco reports on what might happen at the FIFA Council this weekend, when the question of banning Israel for its genocidal actions in Gaza comes before it.

Unless there is more political happenings in football, this episode will be our last until after the summer break. We'll be back in early September!

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 Jack Black about the meaning of the popular English football song, "It's Coming Home" and how melancholy and nostalgia are part and parcel of football culture in England and beyond. That sets up a wider discussion about nostalgia in football and its connection to politics, especially those on the far right.

A version of Jack's book chapter, Desire, Drive and the Melancholy of English Football: It's (not) Coming Home," which is discussed in the episode, is available here.

This is our last episode before we take a summer break. We'll be back at the start of September!

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 Western Sydney University about his new book, Tales of  South American Football: Passion, Revolution and Glory. Jorge provides examples of how the beautiful game is entwined with the continent's politics and society. They include the actions of players like Brazil's Afonsinho and Reinaldo who promoted labour and political rights during the 1970s, Argentine and Chilean fans who are continuing the fight against the dictatorships of the past by demanding restorative justice, and the players and NGOs who challenge partriarchal prejudice against women's football in Bolivia and elsewhere. Jorge also shares his thoughts on the current Copa America taking place in the United States and the impact it might have on American politics.

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 Fair Game. Christina and Mike explain the importance of the election for the future of football in the UK, from the Premier League to grassroots and women's football. The election effectively paused plans for an independent regulator that looked close to being implemented, but Mike explains why the issue will remain on the table and what additional work will need to be done before the regulator becomes a reality.

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 of this week's double episodes on the politics of Diego Maradona, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to Italian sociologist and Napoli fan, Luca Bifulco. Luca explains how Maradona operated in and around the divisions and contradictions present in Italy during the 1980s as well as the political and social factors that have contributed to his 'deification' in Naples. Luca explores how Naples, a southern city, was perceived by Italy's political elites and how Maradona worked on those ideas during his time at the club and especially during Italia 90.

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 to the politics of Maradona, co-hosts Francesco and Guy speak to Mariano Paz, lecturer at the University of Limerick and a scholar who has researched different aspects of the politics of Diego  Maradona. Mariano explains how Maradona's iconic nature makes him an 'empty signifier', meaning that people interpret Maradona and his actions in different ways and according to their own views. Despite his political views and friendships with prominent leftist leaders such as Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez in Latin America, Maradona was not a traditional political activist, but remained a prominent and significant political figure. Indeed, this was particularly apparent during the 1986 World Cup, when Maradona led the Argentine team against England, only four years after the end of the Falklands/Las Malvinas War between the two countries.

Mariano is the co-editor of Maradona: A Socio-Cultural Study.

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 explore this, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to Nicola Sbetti, historian of sport at the University of Bologna in Italy about what this could mean politically. Nicola explains what the main political themes will be at these tournaments, as well as providing an overview of the historical relevance of major tournaments in relation to sport and politics.

Nicola hosts the 'La storia dello sport a gamba tesa' YouTube page (in Italian).  

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 Olga Ruzhelnyk, a Ukrainian researcher at the Institut des sciences sociales du politique in Paris. Olga explains how football is an important aspect of the recent history of the country, from they way football clubs and ultra groups have been political actors to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and occupation of Crimea and the impact it has had on football clubs, fans and ultra groups.

Olga's article, "Annexés et déplacés : les clubs de football ukrainiens de Crimée et du Donbass depuis 2014," which is mentioned in the episode, is available here. Her book chapter, "Ukraine," which provides a historical account of football in her country, was published in The Palgrave International Handbook of Football and Politics and can be accessed here.

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. In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to Siri Schwabe, associate professor of Anthropology at University of Copenhagen, and Jose Nabzo, press and media officer at Deportivo Palestino and life-long club supporter.
Siri explains the origin of the club and reflects on her experience of attending Palestino matches. Jose describes how Deportivo Palestino has served as a point of reference of the Palestinian community in Chile as well as serving as a symbol of Palestinian identity in both Chile and the wider world. 

Siri's academic article on Deporte Palestino [behind the paywall] is available here.

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 Leslie Mabon. Leslie, a lecturer in environmental systems at the Open University, explains to co-hosts Guy and Francesco how the impact of climate change on football is more pervasive than it is often discussed, but also highlights how the football world and fans in particular are mobilising to promote a more sustainable and environmental friendly. Leslie also explains how the impact of climate change affects clubs and players playing at higher and lower levels in different ways, as well as its specific effects on the  women's game.