Stimulating the adoption of green practices by professional football organisations: a focus on stakeholders’ pressures and expected benefits

The authors investigate drivers and expected outcomes of the adoption of environmental practices by football organizations. Based on a survey of European professional football organizations, the authors examine the influence of stakeholders’ pressures on adopting environmental practices, distinguishing between operational and governance practices. The relationship between the adoption of environmental practices and expected benefits is examined. The results partially support the hypothesis of the study, highlighting pressures from market and societal stakeholders as relevant drivers of environmental sustainability in the football sector and identifying a wide range of expected benefits resulting from the adoption of operational and governance practices.