The Centre for Sports Business in the University of Liverpool Management School hosted the annual Political Studies Association Sport and Politics conference at the University of Liverpool on 4th and 5th June.
This was the first time that the PSA conference had been awarded to the University of Liverpool, and the third time it has been held in the city following previous events at Liverpool Hope University (2008) and Liverpool John Moores University (2016).
The conference was attended by over 50 academics with representation from 19 UK universities, three European universities, and five international universities. We also welcomed nine PhD students from a number of different institutions who presented their ongoing research.
The theme of the conference was political governance and the reshaping of the sports industry. The conference acknowledged that governments have long been interested in the role that sport can play in achieving political aims and recognised the different ways that this happens in practice. Research papers considered the role of sport in relation to government policy across areas such as health, tourism, the economy, international relations and diplomacy. Others looked at the application of soft law mechanisms and voluntary regulations that have sought to influence the way that sports organisations are governed, whilst others considered the increasing role of government and legislation in determining the shape of the sports industry.
Papers were organised into two parallel sessions throughout the two days and divided across a number of sub-themes including soft power and geopolitics; football governance and regulation; governance and sport events; diversity and inclusion; organisational governance in sport and football supporters.
The conference also hosted a research focused workshop on Policy Approaches to Community Sport and Physical Activity that involved facilitated discussion amongst the key contributors and the audience. This was led by Professor Iain Lindsey from Durham University, Dr David Meir from the University of the West of Scotland, and Dr David Scott from Abertay University. The workshop sought to engage the audience in debates on the role of research and the contribution it makes to sport policy.
At the end of the first day, we welcomed three guest speakers to a panel that discussed the role of the Independent Regulator for Football and the need for financial regulation in football. Sarah Guilfoyle, Managing Director at Wigan Athletic Football Club; Jon Saunders, former Head of Financial Regulation at the DCMS, and Gareth Farrelly, Senior Associate at Glaisyers and CEO at the Union of European Clubs offered their expert opinion from working in various roles in the industry. The panel discussion gave the audience more insight into the need for financial regulation in football, the process through which the Football Governance Bill became legislation which has led to the creation of the Independent Regulator for Football, and the future financial success of the industry.
The conference dinner on the Thursday evening was held at the Philharmonic Dining Rooms, one of the most historic and iconic pubs in Liverpool.
The hosting of the conference within the University of Liverpool Management School provided the chance to showcase ongoing research undertaken by members of the Centre for Sports Business and to demonstrate the commitment of the Management School to providing a supportive and collaborative research environment.