STAKEHOLDERS AND SUSTAINABLE VALUE CREATION IN FOOTBALL CLUBS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN THE BRITISH MODEL AND ROMANIAN REALITIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbeag.70.sp.iss.2.40Keywords:
professional football, sustainable value, Romanian Ligue 1, Premier LeagueAbstract
Introduction: Professional football has evolved far beyond the boundaries of sport, becoming a global industry with major economic, social, and cultural impact. In this context, the way clubs are governed and how they manage their stakeholders are crucial factors for both performance and sustainability. Aim: The aim of this research is to identify the dominant governance patterns in English Football and compare them with the realities of Romania’s Liga 1. Methods: This study analyzed academic articles published between 2010 and 2025, focusing on stakeholder theory, shared value, sustainable entrepreneurship in football, and football clubs’ social responsibility. For the applied section, seven Romanian Liga 1 clubs were investigated. Results: The analysis revealed that Romanian clubs oriented towards social and cultural capital maintain stable relationships with stakeholders, achieving a positive equilibrium score. Clubs focused almost exclusively on economic capital face major disequilibria, manifested through fan protests and reputational crises. Conclusions: The study confirms that stakeholder integration in club governance is a fundamental condition for sustainability.
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