Economic sustainability: a solution to the financial problems of football clubs
Sport, Business and Management
ISSN: 2042-678X
Article publication date: 6 October 2023
Issue publication date: 2 January 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Financial problems of football clubs during economic crises (such as COVID-19 pandemic) highlight the necessity of achieving economic sustainability. In addition, the economic sustainability of football clubs is accepted as a principle of the development of sports business. Therefore, it is reasonable to conduct a study with the aim of examining economic sustainability in the field of sports club management.
Design/methodology/approach
The present study adopted a qualitative approach to research and used semi-structured interviews in order to develop a framework for the economic sustainability of football clubs. A total of 13 members of football clubs in the Iranian premier league participated in this study.
Findings
The findings highlighted the fact that a number of factors, including media and social networks, entrepreneurship and development of club business, commercialization of the club, privatization, investment and ownership, strategic communication plan, financial management and management instability, promoted the economic sustainability of football clubs and improved their financial performance.
Originality/value
This study highlighted the importance of the changes in the structure of football clubs and the strategic plans for promoting entrepreneurship and commercialization. Moreover, it underlined the major role of the environmental and management components of football clubs in their financial sustainability.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research was funded by Alzahra University (No: 4002101127).
Citation
Atghia, N. and Nazarian, A. (2024), "Economic sustainability: a solution to the financial problems of football clubs", Sport, Business and Management, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 56-79. https://doi.org/10.1108/SBM-03-2023-0024
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited