Identification and Analysis of Indicators Affecting Corruption in The Contracts of Players and Coaches of The Iranian Football Premier League

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting corruption in the contracts of players and coaches of the Iranian Football Premier League. The present study in terms of type of data used was qualitative research, and it was exploratory research in terms of depth of scope, and in terms of purpose, it was applied research. The statistical population of the study included experts and knowledgeable people in the field of the football industry, experts and professors in the field of sports management and managers of the league and football federation and the referee’s committee of the Football Federation. Purposive sampling was performed. The research tool was in-depth and semi-structured interviews. Theoretical saturation was acquired at the end of the 16th interview. Findings showed that 126 primary identifiers were extracted with a total frequency of 282, which were classified into 16 concepts (axial identifiers) and 7 subcategories (selective identifiers). With respect to the frequency observed in the initial identifiers for all documents, the concept of legal weakness with a significance coefficient of 85, mafia with a significance coefficient of 51, incompetence with a significance coefficient of 38 and mismanagement with a significance coefficient of 33 and individual and social immorality with a coefficient significance of 26 had the highest significance coefficients among other concepts. According to the findings, it is suggested that in order to prevent administrative corruption and operational corruption, in relation to football contracts, the existing structures in football should be reviewed and reformed first. It is also suggested in the macro policies that privatization should be seriously considered, because with the privatization of football, politicization will be removed and management reform and meritocracy will be created. Also, in addition to consider macro policies, it is suggested that the federation, clubs and other related organizations pay special attention to behavioral education to prevent individual and social immorality.