The apartheid management style of professional sports in contrast to the Olympic Charter: Developing components and countermeasures

Document Type : management

Authors
Nadiya Zolfaghari 1
Rasool Nazari 2
Hosein Pour Soltani 3
1 Department of Sport Management, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Sports Management, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
3 Department of Management, Payam Noor University(PNU), Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Discrimination in Iranian professional sports is a complex and multifaceted problem that has its roots in the social, political, and economic structures of society. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to present a theory to combat the apartheid management style in Iranian professional clubs. The present study is a qualitative research that used Charms' (2006) theory of grounded theory of constructivism. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and the interviews were implemented, coded, and conceptualized using NVIVO 12 software. The participants included 19 people whose entry criteria for the study were articles and executive experience related to the management of professional clubs and who were fully familiar with the discussion of discrimination and management styles in sports. After theoretical saturation in the collected data, the constructed concepts were transformed into theory. In order to increase the reliability and validity of the results and also to strengthen the legitimacy and accuracy of the findings and analyses, the reliability method was used. Finally, a theory of solutions to confront the apartheid management style in professional sports was presented using 6 basic strategies: teaching social equality, national identity and social cohesion, developing an adaptable organizational culture, promoting accountability and transparency, enhancing leadership skills and democratic and transparent structures. By providing comprehensive guidance to Iranian professional sports managers, this theory allows them to guide clubs towards a fair, equal and democratic work environment with specific measures in each of the strategies. This theory helps management to confront discrimination in Iranian professional sports clubs by improving organizational culture and managers' capabilities. Implementing this theory requires the commitment and cooperation of all stakeholders, including sports managers, athletes, coaches, media and civil society.

Keywords

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journal of olympic studies
Volume 3, Issue 3
studies of Olympic
Autumn
Autumn 2025
Pages 9-29

  • Receive Date 30 December 2024
  • Revise Date 12 May 2025
  • Accept Date 12 June 2025