Corporate social responsibility and professional football clubs in the Netherlands: juggling value and values in a local context

This study mapped existing health-promotion provisions targeting adults in professional football clubs across England, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal, and explored motives behind the clubs’ adoption of the European Fans in Training (EuroFIT) programme. We surveyed top-tier football clubs in the four countries and interviewed representatives from football clubs and the clubs’ charitable foundation who delivered EuroFIT. The findings showed large between-country differences, with football clubs in England reporting far greater healthy lifestyle provision than other countries. Relatively few health-promotion programmes targeted adults, particularly in the Netherlands, Portugal, and Norway. Club representatives reported that the motives for adopting the EuroFIT programme often involved adhering to both the social objectives of the football club or club’s foundation and business-related objectives. They viewed the scientific evidence and evaluation underpinning EuroFIT as helpful in demonstrating the value and potential future impact of both the programme and the clubs’ wider corporate social responsibility provision.

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The Current State of CSR in the Football Clubs of the Professional Football League in Jordan

Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce ◽

10.19041/apstract/2018/3-4/3 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (3-4) ◽

pp. 21-30

Author(s):

Yehia Al-Daaja ◽

György Norbert Szabados

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Jel Classification ◽

Survey Method ◽

Professional Football ◽

Current State ◽

Football Clubs ◽

The World ◽

Corporate Social ◽

Descriptive Survey

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a common practice all over the world, however, social responsibility in the field of sport is still a new concept and received a little attention. This study aims to reveal the current state of social responsibility practices among the football clubs of the professional football league in Jordan. A descriptive survey method was used and a questionnaire was designed to collect the required data on three aspects (administrative, financial and CSR programs). The study found that there is a medium degree of availability of the administrative and financial aspects that activate the implementation of the CSR concept. Moreover, the study also revealed a medium degree of availability of the CSR programs offered by the selected clubs. Furthermore, the study proved that the football clubs in Jordan are aware of their social responsibility and recognize their role in the betterment of the society. JEL Classification: C21, D24, Q12

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Community perceptions of a CSR programme: A case study of a professional football club

Corporate Ownership and Control ◽

10.22495/cocv14i3c1art5 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 197-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Simeon E.H. Davies ◽

Talent Moyo

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Professional Sport ◽

Community Perceptions ◽

Professional Football ◽

Football Club ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Football Clubs ◽

Corporate Social

Professional sport organisations, especially football clubs have been historically characterised by committed and loyal support from local communities an example of such a relationship can be traced to 1888, when the leading Scottish club Celtic FC implemented a unique governance system that included allowing their fans to have a say in the running of the organisation (Carr, Findlay, Hamil, Hill and Morrow, 2000); such an accommodation could be viewed as an early example of a corporate social responsibility initiative at a professional football club. It is therefore not surprising that many present day professional football clubs are increasingly integrating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as part of their overall business and operational strategy in order to facilitate sustainable success in a competitive and often volatile environment. However, little if any research has been conducted in an African context regarding CSR programmes and professional sport organisations. In response to this shortcoming the aim of this research was to conduct a case study of community perceptions of the CSR programme at Ajax Cape Town Football Club who play in the Professional Soccer League (PSL). This study employed a mixed methods design in order to generate both quantitative and qualitative data for a nuanced and relevant data analysis. It should be noted that a number of established high profile European football clubs have recognised the importance CSR, for example Barcelona FC whose exemplary CSR structure has been beneficial to the club, as well as their immediate community (Hamil, Walters and Watson, 2010). Furthermore, it has been previously reported that research can facilitate a better understanding of how and if sport organisations can maximise their organisational performance from their CSR and furthermore also show the social and economic benefits of sport (Moyo and Davies, 2015).

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Perceived corporate social responsibility performance in professional football and its impact on fan-based patronage intentions

International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship ◽

10.1108/ijsms-06-2018-0059 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 353-370 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Dongfeng Liu ◽

Rob Wilson ◽

Daniel Plumley ◽

Xiaofeng Chen

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Community Development ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Professional Football ◽

Content Type ◽

Football Club ◽

Youth Education ◽

Football Clubs ◽

Corporate Social ◽

Patronage Intentions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze fans’ perceptions of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of a professional football club, specifically whether or not perceived CSR performances are then likely to influence patronage intentions of the fans in relation to the football club. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses the example of a professional football club in China as a case study for data analysis. Based on a sample of 451 home team fans, analysis was conducted through calculation of descriptive statistics, and exploratory factor analysis. Regression analysis was conducted to determine the impact of perceived CSR performance on fans’ patronage intentions. Findings The results revealed that factor 3 (“CSR to customer and employee”) and factor 4 (“Community development and youth education”) were significantly predictive of all the three patronage intention variables, i.e. repeat purchase, word-of-mouth and merchandise consumption. In addition, factor 2 (“charity”) would also affect merchandise consumption intention, but have no effect on any other dimensions. Originality/value A scale measuring perceived CSR performance in professional football clubs by the fans in the Chinese context has been developed. In addition, the authors have identified that the two main CSR factors that would influence fans’ patronage intentions are: “CSR to the customer and employee” and “community development and youth education.” Thus, if football clubs are to use CSR strategically to leverage spend, then it is these two areas that they should focus on, explicitly in relation to CSR activities. This paper adds value to an area that is currently under-researched in respect of CSR activities in Chinese professional football.

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Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility and Creating Shared Value on Sustainability

Green Business ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-7915-1.ch062 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1272-1284

Author(s):

Janthorn Sinthupundaja ◽

Youji Kohda

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Academic Research ◽

Deep Understanding ◽

Local Context ◽

Shared Value ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Creating Shared Value ◽

Corporate Social

This article describes how recently, there has been a shift in corporate social responsibility (CSR) to creating shared value (CSV), filling the gap between the strategies underlying competitive advantage and sustainability. Although the principles of CSR and CSV have been broadly studied and investigated, there is still little academic research focusing on the transitions regarding on economic, social, and environmental sustainability. In this article, literature and a case study were reviewed and analyzed to identify differences and contributing factors towards sustainability, based on value co-creation and collaboration approaches. The authors' findings present that the CSV emphasizing on co-created value with the cross-sector collaboration leads to the sustainability. Working together with local people or social organizations enables deep understanding of local context and understand the real social and environmental issues. The study contributes to sustainability and business literature by investigating insights into the sustainability of CSR and CSV, and strengthening the importance of social involvement.

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Corporate Social Responsibility in the Netherlands

CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance - Current Global Practices of Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-68386-3_17 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 367-378

Author(s):

Anke van Hal ◽

Henk Kievit ◽

Andre Nijhof

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Corporate Social

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Corporate social responsibility in sport: Stakeholder management in the UK football industry

Journal of Management & Organization ◽

10.1017/s1833367200001942 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 566-586 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Geoff Walters ◽

Richard Tacon

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Stakeholder Theory ◽

Stakeholder Management ◽

Professional Football ◽

Football Club ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Uk ◽

Corporate Social ◽

Football Industry

AbstractCorporate social responsibility (CSR) has become increasingly significant for a wide range of organisations and for the managers that work within them. This is particularly true in the sport industry, where CSR is now an important area of focus for sport organisations, sport events and individual athletes. This article demonstrates how CSR can inform both theoretical debates and management practice within sport organisations. It does so by focusing on stakeholder theory, which overlaps considerably with CSR. In this article, stakeholder theory is used to examine three major CSR issues: stakeholder definition and salience, firm actions and responses, and stakeholder actions and responses. These three issues are considered in the context of the UK football industry. The article draws on 15 semi-structured qualitative interviews with senior representatives from a number of different organisations. These include the director of a large professional football club; a chief executive of a medium-sized professional football club in addition to the supporter-elected director; and the vice-chairman of a small professional football club. Additional interviews were undertaken with five representatives from national supporter organisations, two board members at two large supporter associations, two representatives from the Football League, one representative from the Independent Football Commission, and a prominent sports journalist. The analysis of the interview data illustrates ways in which CSR can be implemented by sport organisations through stakeholder management strategies. The article concludes that stakeholder theory has both conceptual and empirical value and can be used to illuminate key issues in sport management.

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