Authors

1 1. Asistant Professor in Sport Management, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

2 University of Payame Noor Tehran Iran

10.22044/shm.2025.16903.2797

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to Identifying the Determinants of Managerial Corruption in Talent Management within Youth Football Clubs in Tehran Province.

Methodology: The research was applied in purpose and used a mixed-method (qualitative–quantitative) design. In the qualitative phase, the fuzzy Delphi technique was applied with 20 experts in sports management and football clubs of Tehran Province, leading to the identification of 42 initial indicators. Through three rounds of consensus, these indicators were grouped into five main dimensions: financial, ethical, organizational, political, and socio-cultural. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance increased from 41/0 in the first round to 71/0 in the third, indicating convergence of expert opinions. In the quantitative phase, the statistical population included managers, assistants, head coaches, and coaches of youth football clubs in Tehran. Out of 300 distributed questionnaires, 278 valid ones were returned. The researcher-made questionnaire, developed based on qualitative results, showed acceptable validity and reliability (α, CR >7/0). Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings: The results showed that financial, ethical, and organizational factors had the strongest direct effects on the formation of managerial corruption, while political and socio-cultural factors had weaker but significant effects. Moreover, strategic talent management and organizational consensus were key elements in reducing managerial corruption.

Conclusion: Establishing transparent policies, strengthening control systems, and adopting a strategic approach to talent management can play an important role in preventing managerial corruption in youth football.

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