Assessment of the carbon footprint of an Italian football team during a sport year

This study calculates the corporate carbon footprint (CCF) of the main Italian football club, A.S. Roma, for the entire season 2023/2024, providing a comprehensive analysis of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its areas of activity. The methodology follows the GHG Protocol, breaking down the emissions into Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3. Results show that the total CCF for the 2023/24 season is 6,857 tCO 2 e, including direct emissions from fuels, refrigerants, and corporate vehicles (Scope 1), indirect emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2), and indirect emissions from purchased goods and services, energy-related activities, logistics, waste management, business travel and accommodation, and employee commuting (Scope 3). Scope 3 emissions dominate with 82.8% of the total. The key drivers are the team’s travel and accommodation, goods and services, and staff commuting. As for the area of operations, stadium operations account for 59.8% of emissions, training facilities 23.6%, and internal organization 16.6%. A home game emits 46 tCO 2 e, with food and beverage accounting for 78% of event-related emissions. Overall, the study provides a structured and replicable methodological framework for carbon footprint accounting in professional sport organizations, supporting year-to-year comparability and the identification of priority levers for targeted decarbonization. • Assessing the carbon footprint of a top-tier football club throughout a full season. • The club's total emissions for the 2023/24 season amount to 6,857 tCO 2 e. • Scope 3 emissions dominate, making up 82.8% of the club's total environmental impact. • A single home game resulted in 46tCO2e, with food and drink accounting for 78% of emissions • Stadium operations account for 59.8% of emissions, training facilities 23.6% and internal organization 16.6%. • Providing a clear and replicable method to compute carbon emissions, supporting cleaner production and sports decarbonization strategies.