Document Type : Original Article
Author
Assistant Professor of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran.
Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to identify the problems and challenges of economic management in Iranian professional football clubs.
Design/methodology/approach: This research involved a qualitative content analysis conducted with a directional approach, utilizing a framework based on existing literature and prior studies aimed at enhancing the theoretical foundations related to the issues and challenges of economic management in professional football clubs. To complement the established framework, semi-structured interviews were performed with experts in football management. The study population comprised experts knowledgeable about the research topic. Participants were chosen through purposive sampling and snowball sampling methods for the interviews, which continued until data theoretical saturation was achieved (14 interviews).
Findings: According to the results, seven categories were identified for the problems (lack of club philosophy, weakness in human resource accounting, absence of a transfer strategy, poor fan management, neglect or insufficient attention to youth football, lack of knowledge about the football industry, and poor club brand management) and six categories for the challenges (nature of the football industry, economic challenges, cultural challenges, political challenges, fan fanaticism, and financial governance of the league organization).
Originality: Although a significant amount of research has been conducted in various areas of Iranian football, such as marketing, branding, and privatization, the extent of research addressing economic management and examining the related problems and challenges still needs improvement. This study identifies this research gap and aims to provide a clear picture of the current state of economic management in Iranian professional football clubs. It will diagnose the weaknesses, issues, and flaws in the current practices of these clubs and analyze the challenges that professional clubs face within Iran’s unique political and economic environment, to help address the existing situation.
Main Subjects
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