Factors affecting on the supporters’ ownership in Esteghlal FC Using the Grounded theory

Nowadays, professional football clubs are run in different ways and their ownership structure is different. The clubs are owned by supporters is one of the common forms of football clubs’ governance. Hence, the purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting on the supporters’ ownership in Esteghlal FC. This research was conducted qualitatively and using the Grounded Theory and the Systematic approach. For this purpose, research data were collected through theoretical sampling and based on depth interviews with 8 experts. Based on the Grounded theory and with systematic approach, data were analyzed in three stages of open, axial and selective coding. For validation of data that is equivalent to reliability and validity, two methods of Recoding by the researcher and a Member Checking method were used. The agreement between initial coding and recoding was 88%, indicating a degree of consistency and degree of Favorable agreement in coding. Also, the member checking method was used for confirmability. Based on the results factors affecting on the supporters’ ownership in Esteghlal FC were extracted in three categories: Causal Conditions include: management, meritocracy, financing, government ownership, short-term view, politics, control and supervision. Context conditions include: legal barriers, socio-cultural, educational, hardware facilities; Intervening conditions include: political factors and governance factors. It is suggested Special and clear rules to hand over the club to supporters Prepared and approved and Providing conditions for assignment through culture building and education to supporters and officials and providing the necessary infrastructure.