Tensions in stakeholder relations for a Swedish football club – a case study

Abstract

Swedish football is an industry not yet being as commercial as the big leagues and is regulated in terms of ownership of clubs. This implies a need for management of stakeholder relations for a Swedish football club. This paper identifies important stakeholders in Swedish football and discusses the multitude of – sometimes conflicting – objectives in managing these relations. The empirical base of the study is founded in a case study of Malmö FF, one of the dominant clubs in Sweden, with a qualitative single case research approach. Data are collected by means of semi-structured interviews and participant observations. The results of the study show a number of tensions as paradoxes for stakeholder management, suggest management dispositions to reconcile these paradoxes and suggest areas for further research.

Notes

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2. Madichie, ‘Management Implications of Foreign Players’.

3. De Heij et al., ‘Strategic Actions in European Soccer’.

4. Hamil et al., ‘The Corporate Governance of Football Clubs’; and Michie and Oughton, ‘The Corporate Governance of Football Clubs’.

5. Jones, Football Money League 2014

6. Sahlström, Analys av Allsvenska Klubbarnas Ekonomi.

7. Spear, ‘Governance in Member-Based Organisations’.

8. Friedman et al., ‘Building a Framework through Stakeholder Theory’.

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10. Mullin et al., Sport Marketing.

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13. Mehus, ‘The Diffused Audience of Football’.

14. Forrest and Simmons, ‘Outcome Uncertainty and Attendance Demand’.

15. Cross and Henderson, ‘Strategic Challenges in the Football Business’.

16. Ibid.

17. Van Uden, ‘Transforming a Football Club’.

18. Biscaia et al. ‘Football Spectators’ Satisfaction and Behavioural Intentions’.

19. Gammelsæter et al., ‘Diverging Scandinavian Approaches to Football’.

20. Olsson, ‘Benchmark’ Slutrapport Allsvenskan.

21. Sandvoss, A Game of Two Halves.

22. Ruddock et al., ‘Contradictions in Media Sport Culture’.

23. Hutchins et al., ‘It’s Fantasy Football Made Real’.

24. Cleland, ‘The Media and Football Supporters’.

25. Sahlström, Analys av Allsvenska Klubbarnas Ekonomi.

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27. Mikhailitchenko et al., ‘Saturation Levels for Sponsorship Logos’.

28. Vale et al., ‘The Impact of Sponsorship’.

29. Chadwick and Thwaites, ‘Short-term and Long-term Commitment’.

30. Bühler et al., ‘The Soccer Club-Sponsor Relationship’.

31. See note 28 above

32. Henseler et al., ‘Managers’ Perception of Impact on Brand Equity’.

33. Bergkvist, ‘The Flipside of the Sponsorship Coin’.

34. O’Keeffe and Zawadska, ‘Does Passion for a Team Translate into Sales’.

35. Shaw and MacDonald, ‘Season-Ticket Holder Satisfaction’.

36. E.g. Porter and Kramer, ‘Creating Shared Value’.

37. E.g. Shamir, ‘The Age of Responsibility’; and Margolis and Walsh, ‘Misery Loves Companies’.

38. Walker and Kent, ‘Do Fans Care?’

39. Wallace, ‘An Insider’s Look’.

40. Rookwood and Pearson, ‘The Hoolifan’.

41. Freeman and Reed, ‘Stockholders and Stakeholders’.

42. Andersson, Spela Fotboll bondjävlar!

43. Kawulich, ‘Participant Observation’.

44. Andersson, Spela Fotboll bondjävlar!

45. Interview with MFF Supporter Liaison Officer.

46. Public appeal on Facebook in September 2012 from a significant supporter.

47. Interview with MFF Communications Director.

48. www.framtidsgruppen.nu (accessed February 27, 2012).

49. Interview with MFF Communications Director.

50. Interview with MFF Sales Director.

51. MFF Managing Director during an open meeting for members, November 2012.

52. Interview with MFF Supporter Liaison Officer.

53. Friedman et al., ‘Building a Framework through Stakeholder Theory’.

54. Minoja, ‘Stakeholder Management Theory’.

55. De Wit and Meyer, ‘Strategy: Process, Content, Context’.

56. Mason and Mitroff, Challenging Strategic Planning Assumptions.