Gender diversity and financial sustainability in professional football: a competitive strategy and proposed interdisciplinary research agenda

Abstract

There is a strong body of work in the financial corporate governance realm that analyses the impact of gender diversity on financial sustainability and suggests commercial implications of the inclusion of women in decision-making. Sport governance research has yet to consider the financial benefits of greater gender diversity and the research pool of knowledge is predominantly focused on skills benefits. This commentary offers a brief summary of the business and sport governance literature and proposes an interdisciplinary research agenda that aligns financial and diversity aims. A wider research pool of knowledge around the impact of diversity in governance on football clubs is recommended. Research in this area can support football executives’ understanding of increasing gender diversity (on boards and in other areas) as a form of competitive advantage and financial sustainability.