Football and Risk: Trends and Perspectives

The book explores the concept of 'risk' in elite and professional football from a social scientific perspective, drawing on the wider sociological, criminological, and management literature on risk. It examines how attitudes to risk have shaped the modern football business and identifies those risks that pose a threat to the sustainability of football in the future. It also includes an extended case study of the 2026 World Cup.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 94 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking book delves into the intricate realm of 'risk' in elite and professional football, offering a comprehensive social scientific perspective. By drawing upon a wide range of sociological, criminological, and management literature on risk, it sheds light on how football contributes to our understanding of global risk in contemporary society. The book explores the profound impact of attitudes to risk on the modern football business, identifying the risks that pose a significant threat to the sustainability of the sport in the future. It incorporates the insights of renowned theorists such as Ulrich Beck, Anthony Giddens, and Michel Foucault, as well as digital media sources and policy documents, to cover a diverse range of topics, cases, and themes. These include political, environmental, and terrorism risks, as well as the impact of technologies on football, the governance of fans, and strategies for risk resistance.

In the context of the social, globalized, and commercialized world of football, as well as the profound impact of a global pandemic on attitudes to risk, the book argues that modern societies' obsession with risk has transformed the very nature of football itself. It examines how the game is played on the pitch, organized off the field, covered by the media, and attended by fans. Through an extended case study of the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, the book offers a thought-provoking exploration of the complex interplay between football, sport, events, sociology, criminology, and risk management.

This book is a valuable resource for students, researchers, and policy-makers with an interest in football, sport, events, sociology, criminology, or risk management. It provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the risks and challenges facing the world of football, offering valuable insights into the future of the sport and its impact on society as a whole.

Weight: 144g
Dimension: 215 x 138 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032301136