Ethnic participation in Dutch amateur football clubs

Abstract

Sports, especially when organised within clubs, are often celebrated for their ability to link different ethnic groups together. However, various studies indicate the persistence of a gap between majority and ethnic minority sports participation. This study explores the participation of multiple ethnic groups in the Netherlands’ most popular organised sport. Three explanations for ethnic disparities in sports participation are discussed and explored: a lack of resources, discrimination and ethnic specific sport preferences. The article concludes that resources and discrimination do not seem to substantially structure ethnic participation in amateur football. Ethnic preferences seem to have more merit explaining differing participation rates. A combination of a high number of amateur football clubs, subsidies and geographic concentration of minority groups might be responsible for these findings.