FIFA’s Decision-Making Process in the Face of Escalating Russian Aggression in Ukraine. An Analysis of Reactions and the Dynamics of Emotions Among Members of Selected Online Groups

Abstract

The article analyses FIFA’s decision-making process in the context of the escalation of Russian aggression in Ukraine and the upcoming XXII World Cup, with a particular focus

on the reactions of Polish fans in selected online groups. The research focuses on three Facebook groups, where members expressed their emotions and opinions on particular FIFA decisions during the period from February 24 to March 8, 2022 – a crucial time that coincided with the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine. The article outlines the dynamics of emotion and the diversity of Polish fans’ reactions to FIFA’s actions, which included the controversy over the Russian national team’s participation in the World Cup play-offs. Using the methods of digital ethnography and individual qualitative interviews, the dynamics of emotions among fans towards the mixing of politics and sports, as well as the influence of economic factors on FIFA’s decisions at the time were examined. The article highlights the contemporary role of major sports federations in the context of globalization and their social responsibility in the face of political crises. The findings provide valuable information on the interaction between fans’ emotions and the decisions of sports institutions, which may have important implications for future actions of FIFA and other sports organizations in similar crises situations.