ABSTRACT
Football is commonly referred to as the global game, which is a testament to the sport’s enduring appeal. Many countries claim to have been the originators of football as we now know it, though it is over the last 150 years that the sport which most of us are familiar with has emerged and developed. Initially, football was predominantly a socio-cultural phenomenon in the way that it drew people and communities together under a common identity. As the twentieth century progressed and professional sport took hold, management in football became a key consideration for participants and observers of the game. Later, the influence of North American capitalism began to exert its influence such that, by the end of the twentieth century, the likes of television rights, sponsorships, and club ownership began to fundamentally change the nature and organisation of the sport. And as the twenty-first century matures, there are new issues and challenges, not least those brought about by globalisation, and by ongoing concerns about governance in football. Yet among these many and varied changes to the game, there is still great affection for it among fans; its relationship with the media remains symbiotic; governments still recognise its importance; and businesses know it makes good commercial sense to be involved with it.
