The Making of Football Diplomacy: A Case Study of a Sports Official from Türkiye

Abstract

This study employs an exploratory single case design to investigate whether an international sport official can perform the functions of sport diplomacy: communication, negotiation, and representation. It explores the mechanisms and outcomes of such engagement. Focusing on & Scedil;enes Erzik, a long-serving executive in UEFA and FIFA, the study examines how such actors operate within institutional sport structures while intersecting with broader diplomatic processes. The findings suggest that sport diplomacy can advance national visibility and soft power objectives, particularly through international representation and branding. Erzik's involvement in peace initiatives, informal mediation in politically sensitive matches, and participation in joint tournament bids demonstrates how sport officials may serve as facilitators of diplomatic communication. The case further illustrates that sport diplomacy, when driven by individual initiative, can align with national foreign policy goals. While limited in generalizability, the study contributes to understanding sport diplomacy's practical functions and its informal and personalized diplomatic mechanisms.