Risk Assessment And Management For Australian National Football Team In The 2018 Russia Football World Cup

Objectives of the study

It is the dream of every nation to be represented in the world’s major sporting events such as the World Cup. Participation in such events is not only driven by the desire to win the cup but presents various opportunities to a nation to market itself to the rest of the world. World’s major sporting events market the nation and its potential in various fields to the rest of the world. The participating nation ends up benefitting from participation through having an increase in the number of tourists visiting the particular nation, marketing its potential in the field of sports and as a result having its players scouted and signed to play in major soccer leagues such as Barclays Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A among other world’s popular soccer leagues.

This is a report of a research conducted to assess the risks involved in the preparation and participation in the 2018 Russia Football World Cup by the Australian National Football Team. The report also analyses the risk management strategies put in place to reduce the risks from occurring.

Objectives of the study

The objectives of this research were as follows;

1. To identify the major risks likely to be faced by the team during preparation as well as participation in the 2018 World Cup event in Russia.
2. To explore the consequences of the risks to the national team.
3. To establish some of the risk management strategies necessary to address the risks identified.

Research Questions

To identify the risks and come up with the best risk management strategies, the research developed the following research questions to be answered at the end of the research of the process;

1. What are the major risks likely to be faced by the team in the preparation and participation in the 2018 Russia World Cup?
2. What are the consequences of the identified risks to the national team?
3. What are some of the risk management strategies necessary to address the risks identified?

Literature Review

Due to the high number of risks that come with the preparation and participation in the world’s major sporting events such as the World Cup, various scholars with the attempt of finding amicable solutions to the risks have conducted researches and written on the topic of risk management during the World Cup. For instance, Getz (2005) and Wideman (1992) maintain that risk management is a process that is proactive and which deals with the assessment of any possible risks that may arise during the preparation as well as during participation in the sporting event and cause harm to the stakeholders. They further point out that the main purpose of risk management is to strategically anticipate, prevent, minimize as well as plan for possible responses that may mitigate the risks that have been identified (Jennings & Lodge, 2011).

Various scholars have presented and discussed some of the major risks likely to be encountered by national soccer teams during their preparation and participation in the World Cup. For instance, Atkinson and Young (2002) pointed out that some of the most likely risks to be encountered by teams in the preparation and participation in the World Cup include; terrorism and its effects, security, crowd control, security for sporting facilities, losses associated with the event, incidents as well as injuries (Leopkey & Parent, 2009). These risks pose a major threat not only to the performance of the participating team but also pose a threat to the lives of the stakeholders.

The report uses a risk register to present the results of the risk factor identification and assessment, risk factor quantification as well as a contingency analysis. Using the risk register, the technical team will be able to identify and manage the risks throughout the preparation and participation in the World Cup event.

Research Questions

Risk consequences

If the risks are not identified and addresses on time, the national football team is likely to face the consequences as a result of the risk occurring. Some of the likely consequences include; poor performance as a result of panic, injury, illness and stress. Some risks such as terror attacks could result to death or permanent injuries to players that might paralyse their careers.

Risk probabilities

There is a high probability of risks such as illness occurring. Due to the changes in climatic conditions, players are likely to fall sick. However, the probability of risks such as terrorism and racial abuse is low. This is because since these have taken place in the recent past, the world football federation in anticipation of these risks has put in place the necessary mechanisms to address and prevent these risks from occurring.

Risk Breakdown Structure

To understand the risks and easily implement the strategies, the report uses a Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS). The risk breakdown structure simplifies the risks and makes it easier to come up with strategies necessary for addressing the risks. The risk breakdown structure used in this report describes the sources of the risk as well as risk categories and types.Aim and success criteria

The aim of this research is to come up with appropriate risk management strategies to address the four risks presented. The criteria put in place to ensure that the research aim is achieved include; housing the team in a safe place to reduce the risk of terrorism, carrying enough medical equipment to reduce the risk of illness, putting up training camps earlier enough to ensure that the team trains adequately to reduce the risk of inadequate preparedness and finally preparing the team psychologically so that they do not feel emotionally affected by racial abuses during the tournament.  

Risk appetite and tolerance

Following the recent happening in the world of sports, the risk appetite for risks of terrorism and racial abuse is high. The tolerance level for these two risks is low hence strategies that entail putting financial plan as well as precautionary measures in place to address these risks (Richter, et al. 2010). Similarly due to the desire for good performance, the risk appetite for risks such as illness and inadequate preparedness is also high and there is a low risk tolerance from the stakeholders hence measures must be put in place to address these risks.

Risk severity matrix

After doing a risk assessment, it was discovered that the four risks vary in their severity ranging from minimal to intolerable. The rating of the risk levels enabled the committee to come up with adequate measures for addressing each risk.

The following is a table that assesses the rating of each risk presented.

Risk	Risk level	Severity of Harm	Likelihood of Occurrence	Action/Priority	Timescale
Terrorism	Substantial (High)	Extremely harmful	Likely	Event should not start before adequate measures are put in place to reduce the risk.	2-3 months
Illness	Substantial (High)	Harmful	Highly likely	Control measures should be put in place to monitor any likelihood of it occurring.	1-2 months
Racial Abuse	Substantial (High)	Slightly harmful	Likely	The tournament should not start before adequate measures are implemented to reduce the risk.	2-3 months
Inadequate preparedness	Substantial (High)	Slightly harmful	Likely	Monitoring and auditing measures are required to ensure that the risk is reduced.	1-3 months

Proper risk response strategies should be put in place to address the four risks which present negative consequences. The responses include avoidance of places that might expose players to terror attacks and racial abuse. Strategies should also be put in place to mitigate causes of illnesses as well as making players to accept some of the risks such as injuries to avoid emotional stress.

Literature Review

Risk Management Strategies

Strategies refer to basic long term objectives and goals that are set by an enterprise that adopt action plans as well as allocate resources towards alleviation of a problem thereby enabling the realization of the set goals. A good strategy is characterised by its ability to be identified, unique, clear, maintains a level of consistency with the ability of the particular organization and the resources available for risk mitigation. The management committee of the Australian National Soccer Team should put up management strategies aimed at preventing as well as handling any ineventuality while at the same time, the strategies put in place should also be such that can address not only negative events but also opportunities. The risk management strategies put in place by the committee should be such that can pay attention on even the smallest possible detail of risk that in other cases would have been viewed as being insignificant (Roberts, 2010).

This particular research project employed the use of both qualitative as well as quantitative data that was obtained using various data collection techniques in the research.

Research design enabled easier collection, measurement and analysis of collated data. This research employed the use of a descriptive data design using by conducting a case study among the stakeholders in the Australian National Soccer team to establish the level of risk awareness with the aim of designing risk management strategies.

Samples of the people to be interviewed were selected randomly from among the stakeholders of the national soccer team. Only people who are directly in the planning of the 2018 Russian World Cup by the Australian Nation Soccer team as well as those who have a keen interest in the team’s participation at the 2018 World Cup were selected. A sample of 20 respondents was interviewed covering all the corners of the stakeholders in this event (Solntsev, et al. 2016). Among the respondents were the head of the 2018 Russia World Cup delegation, head of logistics, a representative of the press service, heads of contingents representing various camps, a representative of the team’s medical support, psychological support, coaches as well as the team’s nutritionist.

This research uses both primary as well as secondary research techniques to collect data. Samples were selected from the stakeholders in the Australian National Soccer Team such as the members of the organizing committee, local and international sports organizations, government representatives from the municipal, provincial as well as federal governments, representatives of the security forces, members of the media both television as well as print media, representatives of the sports delegation to Russia, as well as members of the community representing fans and sponsors (Kassens-Noor, 2014).

Data was also collected through conducting an in-depth analysis of academic sources, papers as well as literature. The academic literature was properly scrutinized to collect data that would help answer the research questions. The research obtained crucial data by analysing formal documents for the Australian National Soccer Team that was selected to represents the nation in the 2018 Russian World Cup, plans laid down for the event as well as health and fitness records of the players selected to represent the nation in this event.

Risk consequences

The main area of focus in the academic review was to collect data that would help to understand Terrorism and the risk it presents to the national team (Vidishcheva & Ageenko, 2015). The research obtained academic literature through conducting searches in Google Scholar and Scopus.

It was discovered that the Australian Nation Soccer Team is already facing risks as they prepare for the 2018 Russia world Cup. Some of the risks the team is facing include injuries among the players in their training camps. From analysis of the previous major sports events, it was discovered that during participation in the 2018 Russia World Cup, the Australian National Soccer team is likely to face other risks such as terrorism, racial abuse, health issues and illnesses as well as lack of adequate time for the team to prepare adequately for the World Cup event (Jennings & Lodge, 2009). These risks if not well addresses will most likely affect the team in its performance in this important event.

Analysis of the data collected in this research was done following a two-step procedure. The collected data was systematized using open coding (Bukin, 2016). The data collected covered varied priorities including typical argument among respondents, the major risks involved in the preparation and participation in the 2018 Russia World Cup, the influence of the earlier experiences in the organization and participation in the major sports events by the Australian National Soccer team, sharing of the knowledge as well as experiences by the stakeholders in the preparation and participation in a major event (Dvorak, et al. 2006).

It was discovered that the Australian National Soccer team is likely to face four major risks in the preparation and participation in the 2018 Russia World Cup. These risks include;

This acts as a major risk that may affect the performance of the team. Recent cases of terrorism have posed a major threat to major sports events across the continent. For instance, fans and players of various have in the recent past been victims of terror attacks during sports events. For instance, in April, 2017, there were attempts of terror attacks on a bus carrying players of Borussia Dortmund on their way to Signal Iduna Park to play their Champions League quarter final match against Monaco. This attack caused injury to Marc Bartra, a Borussia Dortmund defender as well as panic to the entire team which resulted to them losing the game the following day. Judging from this and other terror attacks during sporting events, the Australian National Soccer team is similarly at the risk of terror attacks both during their preparation as well as during their participation in the Russian World Cup (Skrypnyk & Bukin, 2016). Moreover, terrorists target high numbers of people because they want the impacts of their actions to be felt far and wide. The world cup provides this scenario hence the risk of terrorism is real.

Terrorism is likely to present risks in the categories of attacks, scare, injury as well as depression among the members of the team hence leading to poor performance (Steffen, et al. 2012). In coming up with strategies to manage the risk of terrorism, the committee is likely to face some challenges. For instance, warning players on the possible risk of terrorism may scare them and hence affect their performance in the tournament further. To address this risk, the committee should put in place security measures such as employment of trained personnel to keep vigilance and advise the team on the best precautionary measures to be undertaken to reduce the chances of this risk occurring or reduce the impact of this risk if at all it occurs.

Risk probabilities

Racial Abuse

The Australian National Soccer team is composed of people of varied races. The members of the team are at the risk of racial abuse during their participation in the World Cup event in Russia. Racial abuse has been a common phenomenon in the world’s major sporting events. Players have been abused, stereotyped as well as prejudiced on the basis of their skin colour (Frawley, 2016). For instance, during the 2016 Euro Games held in France, several cases of violence caused by racial abuse were reported. For example, fans of the England Nation Soccer team were reported to have clashed with fans of the France National Soccer team at Lille. During these attacks, many people sustained injuries while at the same time matches had to be postponed due to the tension stirred by racial abuse.

The Russia 2018 World Cup certain to draw large numbers of people from all walks of life is likely to present the risk of racial abuse. To address this risk which if not address may lead to deaths, panic as well as affect the team’s performance, the committee in-charge should prepare the players psychologically to be ready and not to be affected by issues such as prejudices and stereotypes during the matches (Wolfe, 2015). The players should also be advised to stick in safe places to reduce the risks of attacks by racist groups.

Illnesses

Players just like any ordinary human beings are prone to various illnesses during preparations as well as during their participation in the tournament. Such illnesses if not addressed adequately may affect the participation of players in the tournament. During the event, the players are also likely to be affected by tropical diseases such as Zika virus which is one of the world’s major concerns (Muller, 2016). Furthermore, due to the high number of participants in the tournament, the players are prone to the risk of catching contagious diseases such flu and cold. Some of the strategies to be employed in addressing the risk of illness is having highly qualified personal to provide check- up and treatment to the players from time to time. The players will also need to be kept in hygienic conditions to prevent them from the risk of getting infected with tropical diseases.

Inadequate preparation

It’s barely a year to the Russia 2018 World Cup. The Australian National Soccer team has not had enough matches to prepare the team for this tournament. This is because most of the national team members are engaged elsewhere players professional football in the various football leagues across the world. This leaves no ample time for the players of the national team to train together and get to know each other better (Grix, 2013). As a result, the performance of the team is likely to be affected if adequate strategies are not put in place to address this risk.  Some of the risk management strategies put in place to address the risk of inadequate preparation include using locally based players in the tournament more often as well as keeping the players in the training camps at the end of the current club soccer season where they can concentrate their efforts in training and knowing one another properly (Wong & Chadwicks, 2017).

Risk Breakdown Structure

Most teams with players of good talent fail to perform and deliver results due to the failure by the team’s technical committee to come up with the best strategies to manage the risks. The general performance of a player in soccer is not only determined by the player’s talent but rather by the support the player is given in terms of implementation of the risk management strategies. If the risks are managed adequately, the player will have ample time to concentrate on his/her game and hence deliver results (Stepchenkov, et al. 2015). Furthermore, the good performance of a player or a team is the pride of the mother nation.  However, for the player or team to perform well, they need proper strategies that will manage the risks encountered adequately. Therefore, it is the duty of all stakeholders to come up with the best strategies that will manage the risks and enable the players perform to their full potential.

The Australia National Soccer team has put up strategies to manage risks in the preparation as well as participation in the 2018 Russia World Cup. The aim of coming up with the risk management strategies is to ensure that the team is able to perform and bring the World Cup trophy home. However, there are recommended area of improvement the stakeholders ought to implement to increase the chances of better performance even further. Some of the recommendations include;

• Closely monitoring the operations of the players to ensure that they do not indulge in drug use as this may lead them to getting banned and tarnishing the name of the team and the nation at large.
• Sensitize the fans to engage in responsible behaviour during the tournament to reduce risks such as violence.

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