Audible is launching a seven part investigative podcast examining claims that England goalkeeper Gordon Banks may have been poisoned during the 1970 World Cup.
Foul Play follows Banks’ grandson Ed Jervis and journalist Gabriel Gatehouse as they investigate the circumstances surrounding Banks missing England’s quarter final against West Germany after suffering food poisoning.
The series explores long standing speculation that the illness was not accidental and asks whether the CIA may have played a role during the height of the Cold War.
Across seven episodes, Ed and Gabriel interview former England teammates, examine medical records and review declassified CIA documents.
Their investigation takes them from Stoke on Trent to Mexico and the United States as they look into claims linked to espionage and political interference.
The podcast also examines connections between the case and wider Cold War activity, including references to Latin American dictatorships and the assassination of John F Kennedy.
Gabriel Gatehouse said: “When I first heard this story, I thought it sounded utterly ridiculous. Surely, this couldn’t be true? But the more I dug into it, the more plausible it seemed.”
He added: “Ed and I spent three years investigating, and we’ve uncovered more evidence than I could ever have imagined.”
Ed Jervis said: “What started out as a journey to find out the true facts of a family tale, turned into something much more serious and unsettling.”
He added that the investigation led him “into the murky world of cold-war politics and Latin American dictatorships”.
Foul Play will be available on Audible and other podcast platforms from 28 May.
