Treating your environment with responsibility finally pays off

Behaving responsibly is more than just an image gimmick. In soccer as in life, people who take responsibility for their environment and teammates have an advantage.

A season is long. The last man standing wins the title. How can sustainability and corporate responsibility be explained in soccer terms? A trainer who wants to get his team through “English weeks” but has to sacrifice a third of his squad to national games knows that even highly trained professionals are not inexhaustible resources. Poor form and exhaustion, less motivation and higher risk of injury are the results. Not only can missed training or decreased performance be very expensive, it can also put entire championships at risk.

The same applies to sustainability. Sustainability means handling resources efficiently and sustainably in the ICT area or using ICT in other areas. In terms of protecting the environment, it’s not only a matter of image but can become a real cost factor as well. Energy management is definitely a focal point when it comes to cost and will gain in importance as energy prices continue to rise.

Not only do trainers, staff and clubs feel responsible for their own players, they feel some responsibility toward the fans as well. Corporate (social) responsibility means being concerned, taking responsibility. And at the stadium, fans reward clubs that are in touch with their fans and take responsibility. Sometimes the 12th man can determine victory or defeat.