Enhancing Fan Participation: A Policy Proposal for Co-determination in European Club Football
Tobias Finger, Vincent Reinke, Jonas Biel, Arne Niemann
Abstract
This policy paper explores the increasing alienation of football fans due to the commercialisation of European club football and their exclusion from decision-making processes. It shows research based on surveys and expert interviews across Germany, Spain, Poland, and Norway and reveals growing fan discontent which threatens football’s potential to foster social cohesion and community identification. The paper argues for enhanced fan participation in governance through institutionalized consultation, legal reforms, and support for fan engagement initiatives. It proposes specific measures that aim to counteract fan alienation, maintain football’s social relevance, and strengthen European identity and cohesion through the sport.
Keywords: Policy Paper, European integration, Co-determination, Participation, Social cohesion, Football fan culture