European football after COVID-19

Reade, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8610-530X and Singleton, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8247-8830 (2020) European football after COVID-19. In: Varotto, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5328-5327, Billio, M. and Varotto, S. (eds.) A new world post COVID-19: lessons for business, the finance industry and policy makers:. Ca’ Foscari University Press, Venice, Italy. doi: 10.30687/978-88-6969-442-4/028

Abstract/Summary

The European football industry has suffered an unprecedented shock from COVID-19. In this chapter, we reflect on how the sport’s administrators responded to the initial outbreaks and what lessons can be learned. We also look ahead to what football in the post-COVID-19 era could look like. We conclude that this largely depends on the decisions now facing the sport’s administrators and the powerful owners of the biggest football clubs: will they prioritise football as the inclusive and diverse game, at the heart of local communities? or will their intrinsic financial interests dominate?