Purpose is on Fire: Exploring the role of Corporate Governance through Qualitative Comparative Analysis in European listed football clubs

The present study investigates the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and the implementation of a duty-based purpose within European professional football clubs. By integrating governance variables such as ownership concentration, board size, and board gender diversity, this study examines how these mechanisms interact to align organizational purpose with societal and ethical goals. Given the complex interplay between governance configurations and purpose, a configurational approach grounded in fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) is employed to identify optimal governance combinations with reference to 18 football clubs listed globally. The analysis identifies a “recipe” for implementing a duty-based purpose, suggesting that low ownership concentration, smaller board size, and high board gender diversity collectively contribute to fostering ethical and inclusive governance. Smaller boards promote cohesive and efficient decision-making, while gender-diverse boards bring varied perspectives, enhancing ethical deliberation. Moreover, dispersed ownership reduces the dominance of individual interests, promoting decisions aligned with long-term societal objectives.