The Faroe Islands and the world society: the development of elite club football framed by commercial and local interests and international regulations

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

A limited, but growing body of sport policy and management research is dedicated to studies investigating challenges and opportunities for small and micro nations. Likewise, global aspects of football are regularly investigated; yet the daily organisation of club football at the geographical margins is often neglected. The overall purpose of this study is to investigate the development of elite football clubs on the Faroe Islands. In particular, through qualitative interviews the study explores how board chairmen (n = 15) perceive and assess the current situation of football clubs on the Islands by examining the interplay between commercial and local interests and institutionalised world society regulations. Drawing on a world society approach formulated by John W. Meyer and by applying the quadrant model developed by Guilianotti and Robertson we identify and discuss three areas of importance to contemporary Faroese club management: the benefits from becoming part of the UEFA and FIFA umbrella; organising club football through multiple tensions; and the significance of being anchored in municipalities. These insights are used to outline potential future policy and research implications.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Sport Policy and Politics
Volume12
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)269-285
Number of pages17
ISSN1940-6940
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Civil society, Geographical margins, Institutional sociology, Quadrants, UEFA, FIFA

ID: 254660421