Conceptualizing sustainable participation in the context of German football supporters

Abstract

Institutionalized supporter participation is a traditional part of German professional football clubs. Due to commercialization, some challenging issues have arisen in recent years regarding supporter participation. To develop new approaches for improving participation, the study uses a social sustainability perspective, illustrating that social sustainability elements help to develop and structure the potential for improvement of participation in German professional football. By identifying and discussing links between social sustainability and institutionalized supporter participation, we contribute to the conceptualization of sustainable participation. Our research supports the creation of an inclusive and sustainable fan community where fans can actively participate in decisions and actions that affect their current and future fandom environment. Based on the social sustainability principles of health, influence, competence, impartiality, and meaning-making, we compile the following characteristics of sustainable participation: social well-being oriented participation, direct influence, regular voting rights, representative participation, appealable resolutions, information-based participation, barrier-free participation, democratic voting, established constitutions, and encouraged participation. This conceptualization provides approaches and foundations for future investigations regarding participation research in football and practical implications for member associations, association members, league organizers, and other stakeholders to establish and improve institutionalized participation.

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