Faithball Talks

The Faithball Talks are a series of academic seminars designed to explore the intersections between football, politics, religion, and collective memory across different historical contexts. Conceived as an integral component of the FAITHBALL project, the Talks bring together historians, anthropologists, sociologists, and cultural scholars to examine how narratives, myths, and ritual practices surrounding football have shaped identities and power relations in Spain under Franco and in Argentina during periods of political transformation. The initiative is supported by the European Committee for Sports History (CESH) and the Italian Society for the History of Sport (SISS), and benefits from the institutional and organizational collaboration of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) and the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). The series is funded by the European Union through the Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions (MSCA). Its academic objective is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, disseminate ongoing research, and create a transnational space for critical reflection on football as a cultural, political, and symbolic phenomenon. Scroll down to know more about them.

The Faithball Talks are held under the patronage of the Società Italiana di Storia dello Sport (SISS) and the European Committee for Sports History (CESH). The Società Italiana di Storia dello Sport (SISS- https://www.storiasport.com) is the national scholarly association dedicated to promoting, supporting, and disseminating research on the history of sport in Italy. Founded by leading historians and researchers, SISS fosters interdisciplinary dialogue, organizes conferences and seminars, and collaborates with universities, archives, and cultural institutions to advance the study of sport as a historical and social phenomenon. The European Committee for Sports History (CESH - https://www.cesh-site.eu) is the principal European association for scholars working on the history of sport. Established in 1995, CESH brings together researchers from across Europe and beyond, encouraging comparative and transnational perspectives on sport history. The Committee organizes annual congresses, supports early‑career scholars, and promotes high‑quality academic research within the broader field of sports studies. Through the patronage of SISS and CESH, the Faithball Talks benefit from the support of two major academic communities committed to fostering rigorous, innovative, and internationally connected research on sport.