CSR in Swedish football : A multiple case study of four clubs in Allsvenskan

The question of companies’ social responsibility taking, called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), has been widely debated in research since the 1900s. However, the research connecting CSR to sport was not started until the beginning of the 2000s, meaning that there are still many gaps in sport research that has to be filled. One such gap is research on CSR in a Swedish football context. Accordingly, the purpose of the study was firstly to examine how and why Swedish football clubs – organised as non-profit associations or sports corporations – work with CSR, and secondly whether or not there was a difference in the CSR work of the two organisational forms. A multiple case study of four clubs in Allsvenskan was carried out, examining the CSR work – meaning the CSR concept and activities, the motives for engaging in CSR and the role of the stakeholders – in detail. In addition, the CSR actions of all clubs of Allsvenskan were briefly investigated. The findings of the study showed that the four clubs of the multiple case study had focused their CSR concepts in different directions and performed different activities. As a consequence, they had developed different competences and competitive advantages. Furthermore, the findings suggested that the motives for engaging in CSR were a social agenda, pressure from stakeholders and financial motives. For the two clubs organised as sports corporations, the financial motives were of greater importance than for the non-profit associations, who instead highlighted the social motives. Accordingly, the study has helped filling the gaps in the research field, by expanding the knowledge about CSR in a Swedish football context. Sport managers might use this study for gaining more knowledge about football related CSR and also for receiving inspiration for future CSR actions.