England's 1970 World Cup campaign suffered a major blow when goalkeeper Gordon Banks fell ill with severe food poisoning before the quarter-final against West Germany. Banks, who had made the save of the century against Pele earlier in the tournament, was ruled out with acute gastroenteritis. England lost 3-2 after Peter Bonetti replaced him, fueling suspicions that Banks had been deliberately targeted.

A new podcast, Foul Play, investigates allegations that the CIA poisoned Banks to ensure eventual champions Brazil triumphed. Journalist Gabriel Gatehouse and Banks's grandson Ed Jervis spent three years exploring the theory, which claims the American government wanted to maintain support for Brazil's military dictatorship. They discovered the Brazilian team received NASA assistance in their pre-tournament training.

The investigation took the pair from Stoke-on-Trent to Mexico and the United States, interviewing former England players and ex-spies. Ed Jervis described the experience as an "odd emotional rollercoaster," noting that while he's upset at the thought someone targeted his grandfather, he's also proud that "they had to go after him." The podcast explores how this moment may have marked a turning point for English football.