Exploring athlete criminality

Editors: Berry, M., Berry, C., Caudwell, J.

Publication Date: 01/06/2026

Publisher: Routledge

Abstract:

Sport occupies a unique and influential place in society and is often viewed as a bastion for social development, cohesion, and solidarity. While sport can be positive and appealing, it also has a darker side. The negative behaviours of athletes are impossible to ignore, and their transgressions attract considerable attention, with sport and crime both stirring strong public emotion.

Sport has traditionally been viewed as a tool to divert individuals from criminal activity, yet this belief now faces significant scepticism. The relationship between sport and crime is complex, marked by paradoxes and parallels. Traits central to athletic success such as competitiveness, aggression, and assertiveness can also underpin criminal behaviour.

Research on athletes who commit crimes remains limited. This chapter explores the experiences of 10 elite male athletes who committed crimes during or shortly after their sporting careers. It examines the reasons they gave for offending and considers these alongside existing criminological theories. Particular attention is paid to the role sport played in their criminality and the impact these crimes had on their lives and careers. The chapter contributes new insight by offering an in-depth examination of elite male athlete criminality from the perspective of the offender

Source: Manual