Relationship between the Leading Political Actors towards the Problems of Modern Football in Croatia

Diplomski rad koji je fokusiran na analizi sadržaja javnih iskaza vodećih političara ili onih koji su na vlasti o suvremenoj nogometnoj problematici. Na to me potaknuo nedostatak znanstvenih radova o ovoj temi i želja za promjenom u hrvatskom nogometu. Analizom znanstvene literature i svakodnevnog praćenja događaja i sadržaja iz medija odlučio sam detektirati koji su temeljni problemi tuzemnog nogometa i kako na njih reagira političko rukovodstvo. Korištena je metoda kvalitativne analize sadržaja na temelju koje sam svoje teze dokazivao analizom izjava, službenih priopćenja i svakog oblika javne komunikacije te kodiranjem i analizom strukturiranih i polustrukturiranih intervjua s političkim akterima i korištenjem primarnih i sekundarnih izvora literature. Zahvaljujući metodologiji sam analizirao i definirao javne iskaze i način komuniciranja i odnošenja lokalne i državne vlasti prema hrvatskom nogometu kroz institucije predsjednika, premijera i gradonačelnika te zaključio kako je prisutan veliki interes prema nogometnoj problematici, ali više je baziran na komuniciranju nego djelovanju kroz javne politike ili konkretne odluke. Interes je osobito prisutan kod desnice više nego kod ljevice te se odnos vodećih političkih aktera može opisati kao selektivan u smislu da se neki problemi ističu dok se drugi potpuno zanemaruju. Selektivnost u definiranju problema ovisi o razini vlasti i političkoj stranci iz koje akteri proizlaze. Ovo istraživanje je pomoglo razmrsiti i objasniti kompleksan svijet međuodnosa nogometa i politike u kontekstu hrvatskog društva te može poslužiti kao putokaz i temelj za daljnja istraživanja u svrhu rješavanja tih problema i detektiranja njihovih temeljnih uzroka.This master's thesis is focused on the analysis of the content of public statements by leading politicians or those in power on the topic of contemporary problems of soccer in Croatia. The main reason for choosing this theme is the lack of scientific work on the subject and a personal desire to change the situation in domestic Croatian soccer. I have detected the main fundamental problems of domestic soccer and the behavioral patterns of political leadership in Croatia based on the analysis of scientific literature and daily monitoring of events and media content on the subject. The methodology used in this master's thesis is the qualitative analysis of the content on which I proved my thesis by analyzing statements, official announcements and every form of public communication used by the politicians, encrypting and analyzing structured and semi-structured interviews with political actors and by using primary and secondary literature. With the help of methodology, i have analyzed and defined a way that leading political actors in Croatia communicate and relate to domestic soccer and its problems. The conclusion is that there is a great interest in football issues between all political actors, but it is mostly based on communication rather than concrete political action on issues. That interest is especially present with the right-wing politicians in comparison with the ones on the political left and it can be described as selective meaning that some problems are asserted, while the other ones are completely overlooked in the public. From all the above, my conclusion is that I found diverse and different patterns of relations between domestic politics and soccer in Croatia except lack of interest meaning that soccer is one of the main topics in Croatian society and public opinion. This research has helped to unravel and explain the complex world of the interplay between football and politics in the context of Croatian society and can serve as a guide and basis for further research in addressing, detecting and solving these issues