Prioritizing Factors Affecting the Security of Iranian Football Stadiums Using Analytical Hierarchy Process

This study aimed at identifying critical factors affecting the security of Iranian football stadiums and prioritizing them using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for future decisions. In the qualitative stage of the study, the main factors affecting the security of Iranian football stadiums were identified in 12 semi-structured interviews with experts. In the quantitative stage, 17 experts completed AHP questionnaires and compared identified factors in a pairwise manner. 4 factors, namely infrastructure, physical protection of the stadiums, game planning and management and personnel and staff were recognized as those main factors affecting the security of the stadiums. The results of Analytical Hierarchy Process indicated that the infrastructure (weight=0.460) played the most important role in the security of Iranian football stadiums, followed by stadium physical protection (0.204), game planning and management (0.173), and personnel and staff (0.162) respectively. It can be stated that numerous factors affect the enhancement of security levels in football stadiums; however, based on the results of this study, investment in infrastructure, particularly stadium design and building and stadium technology was identified as a critical area that requires attention to improve the security of the Iranian football stadiums.