Developing a Conceptual Model of Corporate Social Responsibility of the Chinese Super League Clubs

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is seen as one of the key areas of sustainability for sport organizations. Although the rapid development of professional sport is evidenced, the evaluation and classification of CSR is still an under-researched area, especially in the eastern context. This study proposes a conceptual CSR model of the Chinese Super League (CSL) clubs, including five dimensions: economic, youth, community, environmental, and cultural responsibility. The establishment of the conceptual model is based on sound theoretical foundations, such as sustainable development, positive youth development, a sense of community, and globalization theories. Each dimension’s validity is assessed while considering the uniqueness of Chinese Super League. This study provides theoretical evidence to support the multidimensional nature of CSR, which adds value to CSR research in the Chinese professional sport context. At a strategic level, it enlightens club managers and the Chinese Football Association to develop better CSR strategies.