Football in Denmark stands as a very popular game engaging men and women of all ages. Most of them are playing under the wings of the Danish Football Association (DFA). This paper provides a description and understanding of the organisation of football, with a specific focus on the DFA. We ask; how is club based football organised in Denmark and how does it reflect state policy?
Our study is grounded in an analysis of 21 documents selected due to their importance to the organisation of football. Moreover, an online questionnaire survey was sent to the chairpersons of 1247 grassroots football clubs (N:475). To deeper understand the development of and organisations involved in Danish football we include the understanding of society formed by four basic social orders viewed upon as ideal types; civil society, market, state and associations (Pestoff).
Our findings show that the organisation of football reflects and back the associative democracy established by state policy, especially build from 1849-1968, in which people’s leisure time is believed to be important for both the state and the people. Three main aspects can be highlighted as unique traits. First a relatively high number of grass roots clubs spread all around the country, with the main purpose to create local social communities. Second a formal, non-profit, rather autonomous associative structure from a national to a local level, in which grassroots football is in power. And third, a relatively late professionalism (1978), reaching into the commercial sector, though grounded in the voluntary sector.