ESG criteria and competitiveness in professional football: A comparative analysis of Serie A, Premier League and Bundesliga

This thesis aims to demonstrate and analyse how the professional football industry in Italy is undergoing a period of profound structural crisis, characterized by an unbalanced and obsolete business model, where there is great resistance to technological and infrastructural innovation. If we look around, the other major European leagues have evolved towards management models based on revenue diversification and innovation, creating a “competitive gap” that threatens the entire long-term financial stability of the sector. In this scenario, we want to emphasize the transition to a low-emission economy through the vision of new challenges for clubs in the form of “Transition Risks” and “Physical Risks”. The evolutionary stalemate of sports clubs in implementing the various ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) directives is no longer just an ethical limitation, but a real macroeconomic problem. Energy shocks, carbon taxes and new standards imposed by regulatory authorities (FIGC, UEFA) expose unprepared clubs to potential risks and increased capital costs, with the concept of sustainability becoming a key concept in risk management. The core objective of this analysis is to demonstrate how the systematic integration of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) frameworks and the adoption of cutting-edge management paradigms serve as primary engines for modern club growth. By contrasting 'sustainability pioneers' with organizations anchored to 'legacy models', this study maps how capital allocation toward green infrastructure and digital assets overcomes current systemic inertia. Through the evaluation of regulatory and environmental stress scenarios, it is shown that a sustainability-oriented strategy does not merely ensure long-term financial resilience but actively accelerates competitive expansion and brand valuation within the global market. The survey measures the direct impact of solutions, the effectiveness of a type of energy investment and digitalization on cash flows (OPEX). We will also discuss the ability to attract institutional investment, highlighting the ROI (Return on Investment) of sustainability-oriented strategies. The results demonstrate that the sector is moving towards this vision of integrating ESG model into its business strategies. In conclusion, the thesis, also through the use of a ranking, shows us how Italian football clubs are less competitive in several aspects compared to their main European rivals. It also highlights how ESG can represent a significant opportunity to close the existing gap.