Are Italian football clubs embrancing sustainability?

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the approach of a sustainable governance in terms of sustainability strategies that firms have been implementing towards different stakeholders. The study adopts the stakeholder theory lens to advance research on the area. A qualitative approach was used through semi-structured interviews with 17 participants employed in a total of 12 Italian professional football organizations participating in the top division of football (Serie A). Specific themes regarding the sustainability (and CSR) strategies implemented by the 12 football clubs emerged from the in-depth interviews: a) sustainability approach (awareness), b) organizational sustainability capacity in terms of human, financial and other core resources, networks and external relationships. This study sheds light on football clubs' sustainability, representing a distinctive view in managerial literature.