Undermining in amateur football: a gradual process

Amateur football clubs are vulnerable to (criminal) interference. The influence of, say, a major sponsor can be undermining if this sponsor makes certain demands, or if the club is too dependent on that one sponsor. As soon as a lot of money is involved, casual players are recruited and the sponsor expects great performances from the first team in particular, it is not good for a club. In the research report 'Een sluipend process' (A gradual process), researchers from Utrecht University describe the ethical climate in which this can occur. Resisting undermining is not easy, precisely because it evolves gradually, and is also difficult to be made prosecutable. Suddenly, a club appears to have gone too far. The shame about decisions that have been taken and sometimes the fear of bankruptcy or a visit from the FIOD can then exacerbate the problems.