Football stadium intertwined with a blooming garden, symbolizing sports and environmental balance.

The Balancing Act: How Football Clubs Navigate Tensions and CSR for a Winning Strategy

Theo Raines in Business & Economy June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Exploring the relationship between organisational tensions and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the football sector, and its impacts on strategy."

In the dynamic world of football, clubs face a constant balancing act. Beyond the thrill of the game, these organisations are grappling with increasing demands for corporate social responsibility (CSR). This means addressing social and environmental concerns while striving for success on the field. For clubs, CSR has emerged as a critical tool for managing their broader impact, extending far beyond the stadium.

The rise of CSR in football reflects the growing commercialisation of the sport. Like any modern business, football clubs face pressure from stakeholders – fans, sponsors, and communities – to demonstrate their commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. Moreover, football is increasingly seen as a powerful platform for advancing social and environmental causes, amplifying the need for a strategic approach to CSR.

However, this pursuit is rarely straightforward. Clubs often encounter various organisational tensions, navigating conflicting priorities and stakeholder expectations. These tensions can arise from the need to balance financial goals with social missions, short-term results with long-term sustainability, and local community needs with global ambitions. How clubs manage these tensions can significantly impact their success and reputation.

Decoding Organisational Tensions in Football: Key Conflicts and How to Manage Them

Football stadium intertwined with a blooming garden, symbolizing sports and environmental balance.

A study of Danish football clubs sheds light on how these organisations perceive and manage these inherent tensions. The research identifies key conflicts that clubs face and explores the relationship between the level of tension and the extent of their CSR engagement.

The study, based on survey responses from 226 Danish football clubs, reveals that clubs primarily grapple with tensions related to:

Football vs. non-football activities: Balancing the core business of the sport with broader community and social initiatives.
Elite vs. non-elite discussions: Allocating resources and attention between high-performance teams and grassroots development.
Financial sustainability vs. environmental and social activities. How to integrate social and environmental value over organizational goals.

Interestingly, the study found a significant positive relationship between the level of organisational tensions and the club's engagement in social and environmental activities. This suggests that clubs facing higher levels of tension are more likely to actively pursue CSR initiatives.

Navigating the Future: Practical Strategies for Balancing Tensions

While this study offers valuable insights, it also underscores the need for further research. Exploring the dynamic interplay between organisational tensions and CSR in everyday organisational practices is essential. Moreover, understanding how the combination of tensions can stimulate creativity and change, as opposed to resistance and conflict, is critical for the future of football management. By acknowledging and addressing these tensions, football clubs can pave the way for a more sustainable, ethical, and ultimately successful future. How about these three tips: <ul> <li>Embrace Stakeholder Engagement</li> <li>Transparent Communication</li> <li>Adaptive Strategies</li> </ul>

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1080/16184742.2018.1546754, Alternate LINK

Title: Organisational Tensions And The Relationship To Csr In The Football Sector

Subject: Strategy and Management

Journal: European Sport Management Quarterly

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Esben Rahbek Gjerdrum Pedersen, Francesco Rosati

Published: 2018-11-21

Everything You Need To Know

What is the main challenge football clubs face regarding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?

The core challenge lies in balancing the demands of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with financial goals and other organizational priorities. Football clubs must reconcile the need for financial success, stemming from commercialization, with ethical, social, and environmental responsibilities. This often involves managing tensions between stakeholders like fans, sponsors, and the wider community. The clubs need to navigate these tensions and conflicting priorities to maintain a positive reputation and ensure long-term sustainability while staying competitive on the field.

How do football clubs balance financial goals, community engagement, and ethical responsibilities?

Football clubs navigate these competing demands through strategic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. These initiatives help manage the tension between financial goals, community engagement, and ethical responsibilities. This involves several aspects: first, embracing stakeholder engagement to understand and respond to the diverse expectations of fans, sponsors, and local communities; second, promoting transparent communication about their actions and values to build trust and demonstrate commitment; and third, developing adaptive strategies to adjust their approach in response to changes in the environment and feedback. These strategies help clubs build a sustainable and ethical foundation.

What are the main types of organizational tensions Danish football clubs experience?

According to a study of Danish football clubs, the main types of organizational tensions include: Football vs. non-football activities: Balancing the core business with broader community and social initiatives; Elite vs. non-elite discussions: Allocating resources between high-performance teams and grassroots development; and Financial sustainability vs. environmental and social activities: Integrating social and environmental value into organizational goals. These tensions highlight the conflicting priorities that clubs must manage to meet both their business objectives and their social responsibilities.

What is the relationship between organizational tensions and a club's engagement in social and environmental activities?

The research indicates a positive relationship between the level of organizational tensions and a club's engagement in social and environmental activities. This suggests that clubs facing higher levels of tension are more likely to actively pursue Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. These clubs recognize that addressing social and environmental issues can help them manage internal conflicts, enhance their reputation, and build stronger relationships with stakeholders. By engaging in CSR, clubs can transform these tensions into opportunities for creativity and positive change.

What are some key strategies football clubs can adopt to navigate the future and balance organizational tensions?

Football clubs can adopt several key strategies to navigate the future and balance organizational tensions. These include embracing stakeholder engagement, ensuring transparent communication, and developing adaptive strategies. Embrace Stakeholder Engagement: Clubs need to actively involve fans, sponsors, and the community in decision-making processes, understanding their expectations, and responding to their concerns. Transparent Communication: Clubs must communicate their values, actions, and outcomes openly to build trust and demonstrate their commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. Adaptive Strategies: Clubs should regularly review and adjust their strategies based on feedback, market changes, and new insights. These strategies are crucial for fostering a more sustainable, ethical, and successful future.