Überwachungstechnologien im Profifußball: Eine qualitative Analyse der Auswirkungen auf die Athleten

Abstract

Modern technologies are well-established in professional soccer, including systems such as video cameras, wearables (e.g., GPS-Trackers), augmented and virtual reality applications, and AI-driven software systems. These technologies primarily serve to enhance player performance and generate advantages for clubs, as well as other stakeholders such as coaches, fans, betting agencies and data-tracking companies. However, the perspective of the players is often neglected, particularly with regard to data privacy and data ethics. This issue is aptly described by the term “transparent/glass player”. For this reason, this thesis examines how technology-driven data collection and analysis affect athletes in terms of stress, performance and motivation. Based on a comprehensive literature review that identified 57 relevant studies, a qualitative content analysis, according to Mayring, was conducted. The analysis of 19 soccer platforms was subsequently conducted using eight different keyword pairs. This resulted in identifying 176 relevant articles and a total of 343 codings across eight different categories, which describe the immediate player perspective. The results of the empirical research show that the use of technology positively affects player performance in about 92% of the cases studied. However, 47% of the codings related to emotions report that players experience negative feelings such as anger and frustration in connection with the use of technology. The analysis of the category “motivation” revealed that 75% of the codings (53 out of 71) indicate a low level of autonomy among players. Voluntary usage, on the other hand, strengthens intrinsic motivation, which is primarily driven by aspects such as the desire for self-improvement and curiosity. Regarding the category “stress,” no conclusive results could be drawn due to the small number of codings, but initial indications point to stressors such as surveillance, control and performance pressure. An anonymous player survey could provide valuable insights on this matter. Concerning the category “data protection”, eight cases of data protection violations were identified, including three codings for the unauthorized publication of player’s contract data (salary details). From a data protection perspective, player data in the EU is considered personal data, for which strict regulations apply, particularly for the processing of biometric and health data. From the 67 codings on “data ethics”, six central guidelines were derived, including the protection of privacy and athletes’ rights, data minimization, protection against discrimination, responsibility and liability, access control and transparency. These guidelines align with the ethical principles for processing player data formulated by the player’s union “FIFPRO” in 2022. The results of this thesis highlight that while technological advancements in professional soccer offer the potential for performance enhancement, the ethical challenges and protection of athlete’s rights must be given more attention.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	René Riedl (Supervisor)