CSR in Betclic 1 Liga is growing. ISG publishes a new report on club responsibility

Institute for Sport Governance and Sportimpakt have published the latest report on the social responsibility of Betclic 1 Liga clubs in the 2024/2025 season. This is another edition of the largest study in Poland analysing football clubs’ activities in the areas of society, environment, governance and, for the first time, financial responsibility.

The report shows that responsibility in Polish football is developing not only at the Ekstraklasa level. More and more first-division clubs are implementing social initiatives, improving organisational processes and increasing the transparency of their activities. At the same time, the analysis also highlights challenges that the football environment still needs to address, particularly in the environmental and financial areas.

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The highest responsibility score in the history of the study

The average level of social responsibility among Betclic 1 Liga clubs reached 30% in the 2024/2025 season, the highest result since ISG began conducting the analysis. The greatest progress is visible in the society category, where clubs increasingly implement educational, health-related and integration initiatives, while also strengthening cooperation with local communities.

A growing number of organisations are also publishing regulations, codes of conduct and information regarding club operations, contributing to greater transparency and improved governance standards.

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Leaders of the ranking

The highest scores in this year’s analysis were achieved by Warta Poznań and Miedź Legnica. Warta stood out particularly in the environment category, becoming the league leader in environmental initiatives. Meanwhile, Miedź Legnica achieved the highest results in the society and governance categories, demonstrating a consistent approach to organisational responsibility.

Polonia Warszawa and Ruch Chorzów also ranked highly, having recorded significant progress in the quality of their activities in recent seasons.

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Environment remains the biggest challenge

Despite many positive changes, the report shows that the environmental area remains the weakest element of CSR among Betclic 1 Liga clubs. The average score in this category was only 15%.

Most clubs still do not have environmental strategies, do not set measurable environmental targets and limit their activities to occasional initiatives or communication related to ecology. According to the report’s authors, the development of this area requires broader systemic support and education.

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New element of the report: clubs’ financial responsibility

For the first time, this year’s edition of the report was expanded to include an analysis of clubs’ financial responsibility. The study covered indicators related to solvency, cost balancing and operating cash flows.

The results show that the financial situation of many organisations remains a significant challenge. No club met all analysed financial responsibility criteria, while only one club — Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza — achieved a score of 3 out of 4 possible indicators.

The authors of the report emphasise that clubs’ financial stability has a direct impact on their ability to conduct social activities and ensure long-term development.

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The report as a tool for change

The ISG report is not intended solely as a ranking. Its purpose is to support the professionalisation of Polish sport, increase transparency and build a culture of responsible governance within sports organisations.

The analyses prepared by ISG are used by clubs, business partners, local governments and sports organisations as a reference point for designing strategies and implementing good practices.

The full CSR report on Betclic 1 Liga clubs for the 2024/2025 season is now available for download.