The Show Must Go On! The Non-Existence of Corruption in Football [comunicação oral]

Abstract

One of the key premises of the official sports integrity narrative is that the perception of high levels of corruption lead to a general loss of interest in sport and to consequent cultural and financial collapse of the sector. With evidence gathered through a representative survey carried out in Portugal, this article empirically shows that this premise is inaccurate. While football is considered a corrupt industry, the interest of fans remains unalterable regardless of gender, ideology, political preference, age, or place of residence. This article is relevant to the discussion about the implications of sports integrity policy-making processes, since integrity itself does not seem to be an important issue with regards to maintaining the supporter’s level of engagement. The conclusion discusses the ethical implications that this situation generates and advances a series of recommendations to justify the improvements of the policies for integrity and good sports governance.