The Influence of Fans on the Regulation of Professional Football Clubs

The environment of professional football clubs has undergone numerous and considerable changes recently. The changes in ownership structure above else have brought the goals of investors - club owners into conflict with expectations of soccer fans and even jeopardized the survival of professional soccer clubs. The dissatisfaction of football fans has led to attempts to regulate clubs and give the fans a share in the management of the clubs. This dissertation attempts to analyze the conflict between ownership and fans and offers possible solutions. The core of the dissertation is an analysis of the influence of football fans on the sport and the ways in which they may use their economic leverage to participate in the management of clubs. Recently, fans have become more prominent as stakeholders in professional football clubs with the development of the supporters trusts in the British Isles and continental Europe. The dissertation analyzes the regulation tools of Financial Fair Play (FFP), and Supporters' Liaison Officer (SLO), created by the UEFA. It investigates the broader application of these and other regulatory tools for the sport. It offers a model for the measurement of value of fan support to a club. Research conclusions based on a survey of Czech fans are also included and added by recommendations that arise from them