The FootPol Podcast Francesco Belcastro and Guy Burton

Mental health is a growing issue in football  but suffers from being seen as a taboo subject. Co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to writer Johnnie Lowery who has published a new book, Match Fit, looking at how mental health affects footballers and fans, why it's been overlooked and what's being done to overcome it. As well as highlighting key moments that can affect players' mental health--as a young player starting out, approaching retirement or suffering a bad injury--Johnnie also points to successful efforts to break down the barriers discouraging acknowledgement and discussion around the issue, from Our Game to Talking Cherries, Beder FC and the Chris Mitchell Foundation.

Match Fit is published by Pitch Publishing and is available to buy here.

Football has a gambling problem. In this episode, co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to award winning investigative journalist Steve Menary about the growth of gambling in the sport, from the football clubs who take the industry's money to the ways that betting companies are encouraging people to bet.  Steve also talks about the grey world in which many of these companies operate, acquiring a license in one country to enable them to operate in another country where betting is illegal as well as the authorities' willingness to turn a blind eye. The co-hosts and Steve also discuss the UK government's proposed review of gambling and whether it will make any difference at all.
For those interested to learn more, some of Steve's reporting can be read in more detail at Play the Game.

Brazilian football is famous for its noisy and passionate supporters. But Brazilian football fans are not only passionate, they also have a long tradition of political activism. In this episode co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to Luisa Turbino Torres, assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University, whose research looks at fan activism, gender and society in Brazil. Luisa talks about fans' activism and particularly the role of female and LGBTQ+ supporters in Brazil, with particular reference to women's groups around Bahia, Gremio, Clube Atletico Mineiro and Santa Cruz and explains how different groups have challenged the traditional view of stadiums as male dominated spaces. She highlights the role of social media in helping organise female fans' activism and their participation in the protests against the previous Bolsonaro government.

How much does the geography and politics of a country influence the development of its football culture? In this episode co-hosts Guy and Francesco talk to journalist Miguel Lourenço Pereira about football and politics in one of Europe's most fascinating countries, Portugal. Miguel is the author of several books including the recent "Bring me that horizon. A journey through the soul of Portuguese football".  He explains how the history of Portuguese football is closely connected to the country's history and geography. Miguel also discusses the central role of the "big three" Portuguese clubs, the contribution of Africa and Brazil, Cristiano Ronaldo and Eusebio, the experience of the Portuguese diaspora and the position of Portugal in the current global football markets.   

What makes modern football political? And what is the role of football in civil society? In this episode co-hosts Guy and Francesco speak to Cas Mudde, political scientist, football fan and enthusiastic groundhopper. Cas points to various developments taking place in modern football, from stadia as political arenas for both fans and the authorities around them, whether footballing or government. He notes the presence of illiberal regimes, including the growth of surveillance in and around grounds to footballing authorities' embrace of intolerant governments as well as the efforts made by fans to push back.

Cas also touches on his own experience as a podcaster and the insights he has gained from speaking to different voices in the football community as well as his undergraduate "Soccer and Politics" course, which he teaches at the University of Georgia in Athens.

Cas's RADIKAAL podcast episodes can be found here. Cas's Guardian op-ed that he mentions in the episode is available here.

How entwined is football and politics in Thailand? Guy and Francesco talk to Thai scholar Arjin Thongyuukong and UK journalist Matt Riley about the origins and development of the game in Thailand.  Matt and Arjin discuss the rise of the national league and the presence of politicians like Thaksin Shinawatra and Newin Chidchob as football club owners. Meanwhile, Thai society has undergone dramatic change in recent decades, resulting in the emergence of a new lower-middle class enthusiastic about football and demanding greater political representation.  In addition, the guests also discuss the state and development of the women's and youth games in Thailand as well as the international connections made by Thai football.

Arjin Thongyookong is a doctoral student at Loughborough University in the UK and a lecturer in the Faculty of Athropology and Sociology at Thammasat University in Bangkok.

Matt Riley has commented on Thai football for the Asia-wide Fox Sports Central and is the author of Thai Football Tales.