More Than Just Fans : Institutional Work and the Defense of Member Democracy in Swedish Football

This thesis explores how Swedish football supporters contribute to the maintenance of member democracy as an institutional logic within governance structures in the light of increasing commercialization and corporate influence within European football. Drawing on institutional theory, particularly the concepts of institutional work, institutional logics and identity, the study explores how organized supporter groups defend the 51-percent-rule, which mandates member control of football clubs in Sweden. Based on semi-structured interviews with representatives from eleven supporter associations affiliated with clubs in Sweden’s top league, Allsvenskan, the findings show that supporters engage in both formal and informal practices of institutional maintenance work. These range from participation in governance and formal dialogue to cultural reproduction through community-strengthening activities. Supporters view themselves not as passive consumers but as essential actors safeguarding the democratic and cultural integrity of Swedish football. While the 51-percent-rule is broadly celebrated, the study also highlights internal tensions such as uneven participation and concerns about external financial pressures. The findings contribute to the understanding of bottom-up institutional maintenance as well as illustrating how identity and community serve as drivers for preserving core institutional values in an increasingly market-driven environment.