Isomorphic Forces and Professional Soccer Standardizations: Instruments of Governance for Municipal Investments?

ABSTRACT

This article aims to explain why Danish municipalities usually choose to comply with stadium requirements from the Danish Soccer Association (DBU) even though, in most cases, they do not have the supporter base that could fill the renovated or new stadiums to their capacities. Using institutional theory as a theoretical framework, the article shows that coercive forms of isomorphism are part of the homogenization process leading to the municipalities’ compliance. It also suggests that mimetic forms of isomorphism are present in the sense that municipalities believe that if they comply with these requirements they will strengthen the conditions of their local clubs. In turn, they have encouraged other municipalities to follow suit. In sum, the analysis shows that the central form of governance through standardizations together with isomorphic forces have contributed to a uniformity among the municipalities.

KEYWORDS:

• Isomorphism
• standards
• organizational fields
• municipalities
• professional soccer

Acknowledgement

Some parts of the article draw on Alm, J. and Storm. R.K. (2014) Fodboldens krav til kommunale stadionfaciliteter – et institutionelt perspektiv [Soccer’s demand for public stadium facilities – an institutional perspective] Forum for Idræt, 30(1), 1–24

Disclosure statement

The authors reported no potential conflict of interest.

Notes

¹ In this article, a professional soccer club is one playing in either the first or the second tier of the men’s league in Denmark.

² Divisionsforeningen represents all soccer clubs in the three highest men’s divisions. Its goal is to establish an effective framework for developing and operating the international competitive power of association football and for taking active responsibility for safeguarding club interests in Danish soccer in general (Divisionsforeningen, n.d.)