Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in the Sports Industry: From Qualitative Recommendations to Implementation Gaps

Hossein Abdolmaleki

doi:10.63029/d56x7t06

Authors

Hossein Abdolmaleki Department of Sport Management, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63029/d56x7t06

Keywords:

Artificial intelligence implementation, digital divide, human-machine collaboration, organizational resistance, sports management

Abstract

This book review critically examines Ekaterina Glebova's Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in the Sports Industry: Past, Present, and Future (CRC Press, 2026) through the lens of AI implementation management. While the book offers a timely and accessible overview of AI applications across coaching, athlete training, fan engagement, and stadium operations, it suffers from several fundamental limitations that reduce its utility for implementation-focused scholars and practitioners. This review identifies five critical gaps: (1) the absence of a political economy perspective on how AI reinforces existing power asymmetries; (2) neglect of non-elite sports and the digital divide; (3) oversimplification of organizational resistance and human-AI conflict; (4) reliance on non-peer-reviewed sources and lack of empirical evidence; and (5) raising ethical questions without providing actionable answers. The review concludes that the book serves as a valuable starting point for early-stage AI adoption but fails to offer step-by-step implementation frameworks, lessons from failures, or concrete guidance for resource-constrained organizations. For researchers contributing to this special issue on AI implementation, this review highlights critical directions for future inquiry, including maturity models, ROI measurement frameworks, and empirical studies of genuine implementation failures.

Author Biography

Hossein Abdolmaleki, Department of Sport Management, Ka.C., Islamic Azad University, Karaj

is an Associate Professor of Sport Management at Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Iran. He holds a PhD in Sport Management from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and an MA in Sport Management from the University of Tehran. His teaching and research focus on sport management, sport marketing, digital sport ecosystems, esports, consumer behavior, and governance in sport. His recent work examines the role of emerging digital technologies in sport, including blockchain, fan tokens, NFTs, and digital fan engagement. He has also studied sports co-branding, sponsorship, socio-cultural influences on sport consumption, Financial Fair Play in professional football, and anti-marketing strategies related to doping prevention.

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