Governança do futebol e seus desafios sociais: um estudo de caso sobre a experiência goianiense

Abstract

The governance of professional football in Goiânia constitutes a complex phenomenon shaped by institutional disputes, power asymmetries and formal and informal regulatory practices that define the operational dynamics of the local sports field. This study aims to critically analyze how management, regulatory and control mechanisms structure the governance regime of football in Goiânia, as well as how these structures generate social, political and symbolic impacts on organized fan groups, women, racialized subjects and other actors involved in the football environment. The research adopts a qualitative and exploratory approach, designed as a case study supported by methodological triangulation. Data collection included semistructured interviews with key stakeholders, documentary research conducted through Freedom of Information requests, examination of institutional regulations, and direct observation in matches of the 2024 Brazilian Championship (Series A and B) and the 2025 State Championship. This combination of procedures enabled a comprehensive understanding of governance dynamics, tensions and contradictions. The findings reveal that the governance regime operates through a hierarchical and selective structure in which clubs, the state federation and security forces play complementary yet asymmetrical roles. Violence management remains predominantly repressive rather than preventive, reinforced by media narratives that stigmatize organized supporters. Furthermore, persistent gender, racial and sexual discrimination was observed, reflected both in underrepresentation in leadership positions and in symbolic exclusion within stadium environments. The study concludes that football governance in Goiânia reproduces broader structural inequalities, although it also presents potential avenues for democratization and institutional reform.