Editors
- Stefan Lawrence, Leeds Beckett University
- Garry Crawford, University of Salford
- Agyro Elisavet Manoli, University of Bergamo
Nearly a decade has passed since two of us edited and published Digital Football Cultures: Fandom, Identities and Resistance (Routledge, 2018). During that time, football and digital society have undergone profound transformation. What were once emerging technologies and practices have become embedded within the both the governance and consumption of the global game.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption across football, while advances in artificial intelligence, platform technologies, data analytics and algorithmic systems have fundamentally reshaped how clubs, governing bodies, broadcasters, commercial partners and supporters interact. Football organisations increasingly operate as digital platforms, collecting, analysing and monetising data alongside the production of sporting competition. Supporters engage with football through interconnected digital ecosystems that influence participation, identity, consumption and community in increasingly complex ways.
This edition builds upon the foundations established in Digital Football Cultures by examining this new platformed phase of football’s hyperdigitalisation. Rather than asking whether digital technologies matter, the collection explores how platforms, data and algorithmic systems are transforming football cultures, organisations, governance and everyday experiences, whilst considering what these developments reveal about wider social, cultural, political and economic change.
The volume will bring together leading and emerging scholars from across the social sciences and humanities to advance a new generation of digital football studies.
Suggested Themes
We welcome conceptual, theoretical, empirical and methodological contributions. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
Platform Football
- Platformisation of football clubs and governing bodies
- Digital ecosystems and platform dependency
- Fan relationship management (CRM) and supporter data
- Creator economies, influencers and football media
- Digital business models and platform capitalism
Data, Artificial Intelligence and Governance
- Artificial intelligence in football
- Datafication and analytics
- Algorithmic governance and decision-making
- Fan data governance and privacy
- Digital ethics, surveillance and cybersecurity
- Knowledge management and organisational transformation
Football, Media and Digital Culture
- Digital fandom and online communities
- Social media and athlete branding
- Streaming platforms and broadcast innovation
- Podcasts, fan media and independent journalism
- Mobile-first football consumption
- Memes, digital storytelling and participatory cultures
Football, Identity and Society
- Race, gender and digital inequalities
- Women’s football and digital transformation
- Youth football and digital participation
- Accessibility and inclusive technologies
- Digital activism, protest and resistance
- Comparative and international perspectives
Emerging Technologies
- Smart stadia and connected infrastructures
- Wearable technologies and athlete monitoring
- Esports and virtual football
- Fantasy football and gamification
- Blockchain, NFTs and Web3
- Mixed and extended reality
Submission Guidelines
Please submit the following:
- A proposed chapter title
- An abstract of 500 words outlining:
- the research question(s) or objectives;
- theoretical framework;
- methodology (where appropriate);
- anticipated theme and contribution to the volume.
- A short biography (approximately 100 words) for each author.
- Proposals from established and early career researchers are equally welcome.
Submit Your Abstract Here
Important Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Call for Chapters Issued | September 2026 |
| Abstract Submission Deadline | 30 November 2026 |
| Notification of Acceptance | 16 January 2027 |
| Full Chapter Submission | 30 September 2027 |
| Peer Review Feedback | December 2027 – February 2028 |
| Final Chapters Due | 30 April 2028 |
| Complete Manuscript Submitted to Routledge | June 2028 |
| Anticipated Publication | Late 2028 / Early 2029 |
Enquiries
Please send abstracts and enquiries to:
Dr Stefan Lawrence
Leeds Beckett University
stefan.lawrence@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Diversity and Inclusion
Digital football cultures are inherently global. We particularly encourage submissions from scholars based outside Europe and North America, early career researchers, and contributors whose work foregrounds diverse perspectives, contexts and experiences. Our aim is to produce a genuinely international collection that reflects the breadth and complexity of football’s digital transformation.
