Football's impact in the Romanian economy reaches EUR 740 million annually, FRF estimates show

The Romanian Football Federation (FRF), the Swedish Football Federation and UEFA have developed the first study that analyses the socio-economic impact of the Romanian population’s participation in football-related activities. The study shows that the impact generated by the phenomenon currently amounts to EUR 740 million.

According to the study called The Social Benefit of Investment in Football, the impact could increase by another EUR 19.2 million if additional investments in infrastructure amounting to EUR 320,000 a year are made over a 5-year period.

Romania currently has an estimated 700,000 participants in football activities, of which only 219,000 and 1.2 percent of the total population are actually football players.

Compared to the European average, Romania still has twice as many registered players in the total population. This position is also an advantage, according to the authors of the study, because it provides an increased return on additional investment in the development of football.

The impact that football now has on the economy through direct contributions – the creation of new facilities and participation expenses – is estimated by analysts at EUR 183 million and about 1,400 newly created jobs.

In societies, football brings EUR 54 million in benefits by reducing crime, reducing the risk of school dropout and absenteeism, and improving education. The total impact of the population’s participation in football activities amounts to EUR 740 million annually.

Additional infrastructure investments, estimated by analysts at a value of EUR 320,000/year, could generate an impact of EUR 19.2 million in economy, health and society. As far as football performance is concerned, these investments could increase the current base of registered players by 16,000 and would have a long-term impact on elite performance of senior teams, especially female ones.