The People's Game?: Football, Finance and Society

Football is big business, and clubs are becoming richer and more powerful. This second edition of the book explores the economic structure of football, prevalent models of club ownership and governance, and new approaches to regulation. It also reflects on the Covid-19 pandemic and offers an insight into the women's game and its financial development. The book seeks to make sense of the current challenges while also putting forward solutions to how football can continue to harness and build on its social and community significance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 284 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

The beautiful game has become a massive enterprise, with football leagues worldwide dominated by clubs that are growing richer and more influential. Since the first edition of this book was published in 2003, significant changes have occurred in the industry. However, the central challenge remains how football, its leagues, and clubs can navigate a path between the market's logic and the logic of community (social), while also maintaining a focus on sportsmanship.

In this second edition, author Stephen Morrow critically examines the economic structure of football, prevalent models of club ownership and governance, and emerging approaches to regulation. The book also reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on football, highlighting the structural weaknesses inherent in the sport. It provides insights into the women's game and its financial development in various countries, discussing issues such as football's response to environmental challenges.

Drawing on theory and new literature from various academic disciplines, this book aims to make sense of the current challenges while proposing solutions to ensure football continues to harness and build on its social and community significance.

Weight: 534g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031209314
Edition number: 2nd ed. 2023