Political Influence

By: Isak Möller Adriano Galliani has decided not to run for the FIGC presidency despite AC Milan’s attempt, although he has admitted that he thought about it. Since Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup, the main talking point has been who should replace Gabriele Gravina as the FIGC president (the Italian FA). Many candidates have been […] The post Galliani turns down FIGC candidacy despite Milan’s attempt: “I thought about it” appeared first on SempreMilan.

In this sneak peek to a bonus episode of It Was What It Was on Patreon, hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by Professor Matthew Brown (University of Bristol) to deepen the series on Andrés Escobar by tracing how Colombian history, political violence and the drug economy intersect with football. Brown rejects Gabriel García Márquez’s claim that three events defined 20th-century Colombia, while explaining why the 5–0 win over Argentina in 1993 became a tipping point for football as a national identity marker. The discussion covers football’s emergence alongside other sporting cultures, the role of sport after the 1948 Bogotazo and during La Violencia, and Colombia’s later shift into guerrilla conflict and cocaine trafficking. They explore cartel money’s social and sporting influence, the effects of Pablo Escobar’s death and subsequent violence, the symbolic damage of Colombia’s 1994 World Cup collapse, Copa América 2001, and how the 2014 team helped build trust during negotiations leading to the 2016 peace deal, while noting ongoing violence tied to the illegal drug trade. You can listen to the full episode on Patreon On Tuesday, Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson return to round off the Colombia series and bring that story to a close. On Wednesday, on Patreon only, the co-hosts continue the World Cup countdown series with an episode on the 1962 World Cup in Chile, looking back at the tournament and some of its key moments. Then on Friday, also on Patreon only, we look back at when Northern Ireland faced Italy in the 1958 World Cup qualifiers. With Northern Ireland preparing for their 2026 World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy, Rob and Jonathan revisit the meeting where Northern Ireland qualified for their first World Cup and discuss the background to Ireland’s football split in the 1950s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. This week co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper delve into George Orwell's infamous essay on sport, specifically focusing on Dinamo Moscow's 1945 tour of Britain. They explore Orwell's controversial viewpoint that serious sport is akin to 'war minus the shooting,' and delve into the historical and political context of this post-WWII football tour. The discussion covers the tactical innovations introduced by the Soviet team, the media and public's reaction, and the broader implications for international sport and politics. This episode provides an in-depth look at how football can both unite and divide, reflecting on Orwell's critique and its relevance to today's sports culture. 00:00 Introduction: The Dark Side of Sports 01:05 George Orwell's Influence on Sports 01:49 The Political Context of the 1945 Moscow Tour 02:47 The Goodwill Tour: Ideals vs. Reality 05:00 The Soviet Union's Football Strategy 08:23 The Arrival of Dinamo Moscow 21:45 The First Match: Dinamo Moscow vs Chelsea 30:53 The Political Showdown: Arsenal vs Dinamo Moscow 32:31 The Final Game in Scotland 35:56 Soviet Propaganda and the Legacy of the Tour 40:36 Tactical Innovations and English Football's Response 47:36 George Orwell's Critique of Sport 53:18 Football's Role in Nationalism and International Relations 01:00:51 Concluding Thoughts on Orwell and Football Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast hosted by Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson. Today we bring you the fascinating story of the El Dorado League in 1940s Colombia. Discover how the government, amid a brutal civil war and the assassination of liberal leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, turned to football to pacify an unsettled population. Learn about the league's extraordinary formation, iconic players like Alfredo Di Stefano and Adolfo Pedernera, and the league's ultimate collapse. Join us for an in-depth look at an astonishing chapter in football history and its lasting impact. 00:00 The Role of Football in Political Control 01:43 The Assassination of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán 03:33 The Aftermath and Civil Unrest 14:12 The Rise of the El Dorado League 22:51 The Impact of Global Events on Colombian Football 29:29 Player Transfers and Union Arguments 30:36 Colombian Football's Golden Era Begins 32:30 The Arrival of International Stars 34:59 Challenges and Discontent Among Players 38:32 The Decline of the El Dorado League 50:00 Political Turmoil and Football's Role 54:54 Legacy and Modern Parallels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week is the Democratic convention and we are talking politics and soccer with Travis Helwig of Crooked Media! You may know Travis from his work on Pod Save America of Lovett or Leave it. Travis is also a huge LAFC fan and we recap how the MLS is Back Tournament went for them. We'll also talk about Megan Rapinoe and her influence on the upcoming presidential election. Sponsors: On The Volley Apparel: Get all your Cooligans merch at onthevolleyapparel.com/cooligans Gully Squad: If you'd like to support the podcast, you can do that by joining Gully Squad at soccercooligans.com and click on the menu to join. Get access to the Gully Squad slack channel + exclusive content + the official Cooligans pin! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices