<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This study aims to understand the club-fan relationship from the standpoint of club owners, CEOs, and head coaches (i.e., managers). Eight in-depth interviews were conducted with prominent figures from professional football and basketball in Israel. The current findings indicate that while clubs need the support of their fans, they often find themselves struggling with their aggressive behavior and demands to influence the club’s decision-making processes. First, this qualitative research provides an important insight into the unique experience of pivotal decision-makers in professional sports. Second, we apply the <italic>complexity</italic> lens to discuss the challenges faced by such stakeholders when trying to manage fans’ disruptive interventions.</p>
</abstract>

This study aims to understand the club-fan relationship from the standpoint of club owners, CEOs, and head coaches (i.e., managers). Eight in-depth interviews were conducted with prominent figures from professional football and basketball in Israel. The current findings indicate that while clubs need the support of their fans, they often find themselves struggling with their aggressive behavior and demands to influence the club’s decision-making processes. First, this qualitative research provides an important insight into the unique experience of pivotal decision-makers in professional sports. Second, we apply the complexity lens to discuss the challenges faced by such stakeholders when trying to manage fans’ disruptive interventions.

The Complex Club-Fan Relationship: A Glimpse into Stakeholders’ Experience With the Aggressive Interventions of Fans

Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This study aims to understand the club-fan relationship from the standpoint of club owners, CEOs, and head coaches (i.e., managers). Eight in-depth interviews...

The Complex Club-Fan Relationship: A Glimpse into Stakeholders’ Experience With the Aggressive Interventions of Fans

Publié en ligne: 22 déc. 2023

Pages: 15 - 27

Reçu: 02 août 2023

Accepté: 05 déc. 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2024-0009

Mots clés
sports fans, sports club, team sports, management, complexity

© 2024 Felix Lebed et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The Complex Club-Fan Relationship: A Glimpse into Stakeholders’ Experience With the Aggressive Interventions of Fans

Publié en ligne: 22 déc. 2023

Pages: 15 - 27

Reçu: 02 août 2023

Accepté: 05 déc. 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2024-0009

Mots cléssports fans, sports club, team sports, management, complexity

© 2024 Felix Lebed et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Mots clés
sports fans, sports club, team sports, management, complexity