We're Your Biggest Fans!
Monday, June 18, 2012 - 09:49
The scenes are common: screaming fans, the broken glass, a mob and the inevitable violence or tragedy; why is it that major sporting events like the Euro2012 championships can provoke such acts of violence?
Fan identification is the commitment, perceived connectedness and emotional involvement a spectator has with a team. Studies say that identification with sports teams is psychologically important for many people, particularly in a society where we are increasingly distancing ourselves from one another. Identifying with a team can give people the social support they are lacking in their everyday lives.
Crowd management can be a difficult task because spectator aggression is only one of many public safety concerns. Police are forced to balance the interests of many different parties (fans, owners and vendors who want profits). It would be difficult to convince team owners that they should discourage highly dedicated fans, so where do we draw the line?
Sport is unpredictable with uncontrollable outcomes, emotions run high and things can out of hand very easily, which begs another question, who is responsible when fans get aggressive?
It is worth pointing out that while bad behaviour tends to paint sports fans in a bad light, millions of fans enjoy games each year without ever becoming involved this kind of mob mentality.
If you have any thoughts on this issue, we would love to hear them!
References From the SIRC Collection
1. DeSiato N. SILENCING THE CROWD: REGULATING FREE SPEECH IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FACILITIES. Marquette Sports Law Review. Spring2010 2010;20(2):411-439. 2. MADKOUR A. Mitigating fan behavior. Street & Smith's Sportsbusiness Journal. August 29, 2011;14(18):20. 3. Müller F, van Zoonen L, de Roode L. Accidental Racists: Experiences and Contradictions of Racism in local Amsterdam Soccer Fan Culture. Soccer & Society. July 2007;8(2/3):335-350. 4. Rainey D, Yost J, Larsen J. Disappointment Theory and Disappointment Among Football Fans. Journal Of Sport Behavior. June 2011;34(2):175-187. 5. Stevens S, Rosenberger III P. The influence of involvement, following sport and fan identification on fan loyalty: an Australian perspective. International Journal Of Sports Marketing & Sponsorship [serial online]. April 2012;13(3):221-235 6. Vallerand R, Ntoumanis N, Maliha G, et al. On passion and sports fans: A look at football. Journal Of Sports Sciences.
