
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.
Podcasting since 2023 • 87 episodes
The FootPol Podcast
Latest Episodes
Full-Time Whistle: The Season 2 Finale!
In the last episode of the seasone, co-hosts Guy and Francesco reflect on a great second season of FootPol, and pick apart some of the main themes from the season. They include conversations about community clubs and inclusivity as well as the ...
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Season 2
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Episode 41
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25:42

Football in a Time of War: Gaza, Iran, Sudan & DR Congo
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 Pales...
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Season 2
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Episode 40
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45:21

Class Act: Football and the English Working Class ft. Josh Bland
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 39
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47:41

When Goals Don't Matter: Gals FC ft. Nora Beqaj
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 br...
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Season 2
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Episode 38
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41:10

Did Spain's World Cup win change society? ft. Fernando Gutiérrez-Chico and Aníbal Mesa López
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 Rubial...
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Season 2
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Episode 37
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55:54
