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.

Amidst the ongoing Israeli attack on Gaza, football might seem a secondary and even irrelevant aspect. Yet football offers a ghastly testimony of the destruction caused by the Israeli attack on Gaza, as well as the dynamics of occupation of Palestinian territory by the Israeli state.

In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to journalist Karim Zidan and academic Kat Pijetlovic. Karim explains the impact of Israel’s occupation on the Palestinians’ ability to play football, as well as devastating impact of Israel’s war on Gazan football. Katarina, one of the initiators of the petition to exclude Israel from sport hosted by DiEM25, explains why sport and the sport boycott represent a key symbolic struggle for supporters of the Palestinian cause.

The petition, "Suspend Israel from international sports," can be accessed and signed at DiEM25 here.

Karim's Sports Politika SubStack newsletter is available here.