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In Turkish society today, women have become more and more invisible under the rule of President Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party, illustrated by the absence of female supporters in Turkish football stadiums. This has not always been the case, however, as a recent article in the Soccer and Society journal highlighted. Sezen Kayhan’s study focuses on a group of female supporters, the Purple Violets, who follow Orduspor, a team based in the city of Ordu on the Black Sea.
In the 1970s, the Purple Violets grew in numbers to such an extent that the club decided to reserve a special place in the stadium just for them, known as the ‘women’s bleacher’. Sezen notes that football was not only very popular but was the ‘pioneer social activity’ for women in the city of Ordu in the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, however, the group has lost its enthusiasm and stopped going to games, due chiefly to the commercialization of football, the impact of political polarisation in Turkey on football fandom, and government policies strongly discouraging women’s presence in public spaces; the latter has manifested itself in sexist chants and attacks on female supporters. Furthermore, the existence of Orduspor is itself under threat, after the local pro-government municipality formed a new team and forced Orduspor out of its stadium, which has now been demolished.
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After the backlash in response to plans for a European Super League, and numerous protests targeting the wealthy owners of clubs such as Everton recently, it seems that big business and football fandom are increasingly at odds with one another. However, a recent study has revealed that some football clubs are hiring branding experts, in order to straddle this divide and appease supporters who might otherwise react negatively to rebranding exercises.
Dr Alison Barnes studied the ways in which several European clubs have attempted to redesign what she calls their ‘visual identity system’. In an article published in Soccer & Society last year, Alison notes that these attempts have had varying success. Fans of Everton, for example, objected strongly to a new crest design and forced the club to engage in a collaborative design process that involved the fans. On the other hand, Juventus have gone through with a dramatic change to their crest, one initiative among many including the creation of a special ‘J-Hotel’ designed to propel the club to the international stage and attract supporters from all over the globe, including people who have never engaged with football before.
Whilst clubs like Juventus are moving beyond the traditional fanbase and adopting a model more typical of multinational companies like Nike and Adidas, the relationship between club crests and football fans is more complicated than the typical relationship between brand and consumer.
Today we explore:
How has social media influenced rebrands? What can help a rebrand succeed, and what are the pitfalls to avoid? Are the actions and views of supporters who resist branding a form of counter-narrative?…all this and more in our latest episode.
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Fehlende Folgen?
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Matchday atmospheres are often the subject of taunts from rival fans, as supporters of Manchester City and Arsenal will know; a lack of chanting and other expressions of support is associated with a lack of passion and enthusiasm for the game, at odds with English football’s world-renowned reputation for vibrant atmospheres.
A recent study examined a perceived deficit in vocal support among supporters of the Chilean national team, an issue that has drawn criticism from players and fans alike.
Luis Achondo, in an article published in Soccer and Society, looked at the controversy surrounding recent fixtures including Chile’s games at the 2015 Copa America, which Chile hosted. Fans were criticised by players for the lack of vocal support, with Alexis Sánchez complaining: ‘it seems that we’re not playing in Chile’. Luis highlights how hinchas - a term denoting the fanatical supporters who ‘foster community bonds, denounce their deprived social conditions, and accrue honour and prestige’ through ‘drumming, whistling, launching pyrotechnics, and vocalizing chants’ - are few in attendance at national team matches.
These supporters, he argues, have been priced and bullied out of the game deliberately by the authorities and police, who view the hinchas as unwelcome deviants bringing the game into disrepute. This represents ‘the silencing and exclusion of those who are incompatible with the silent modes of citizenship and consumption favoured by the Chilean neoliberal model’, since the ‘ideal liberal democratic subject has been understood as a citizen who not only engages in quiet modes of democratic citizenship but also in silent modes of consumption’.
Today we explore:
How are Chile's football authorities trying to change fan culture in the country? What parallels might there be with the Premier League? Are the changes in football fandom in Chile being reflected in changing demographics among the players on the pitch?...all this and more in our latest episode
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In this episode, we’re looking at the growth of ‘football tourism’ in the English Premier League.
Between 2008 and 2017, companies in the tourism sector became the number one investors in sponsorship spending in the English, Italian, Spanish, and German top divisions. This rising interest among such companies, and the consequences for the matchday experience in the English Premier League, was the primary focus of an article exploring the rise of so-called ‘football tourism’ in the UK.
While many studies have focussed on the growing financial investment in football over the past three decades, few have looked at the growth of football tourism and the increasing interest from the tourism sector in providing holiday packages centred around a football experience. In an article published in the Soccer and Society journal earlier this year, Felipe Tobar and Gregory Ramshaw found that football tourism is a key part of attracting overseas markets and thereby contributing to the UK economy. The agency VisitBritain, for example, now has a dedicated EPL section on its website, where visitors from 58 countries can buy tickets for matches and stadium tours. However, the article also highlights allegations of gentrification within football stadiums, with some local supporters claiming they are less valued by their clubs than visitors coming from overseas to sample the matchday experience. The authors argue that the burgeoning phenomenon of football tourism merits greater attention, in particular the threats it may pose to the cultural preservation of clubs’ local character.
Today we explore:
To what extent is a rise in tourists altering the character of English clubs? How has Visit Britain played a pivotal role in the touristification of the Premier League? Are other leagues experiencing the same rise in tourism, and may there be a backlash?...all this and more in our latest episode
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This week, we’re looking at the political and economic issues concerning a controversial chant used by Mexican football fans.
During the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the Mexican Soccer Federation was fined $10,000 after fans of the national team used the term ‘¡puto!’ to address opposition players in their opening game. The term is widely considered to have homophobic connotations, but a recent study by today's guests - Marie Sarita Gaytán and Matthew Basso - argues that ‘puto’ has layered meanings, which are evident in its employment by Mexican football fans.
Sarita and Matthew argue that a more nuanced analysis is required when discussing this controversial chant. While they recognise that ‘The macho remains a recognizable trope of Mexican manhood’, representing virility and domination over women and homosexuals, the ‘hegemonic image and stereotypical associations… do not necessarily align with men’s sense of identity’, especially Mexican working-class men who are negotiating ‘their sense of masculinity via a range of life experiences’.
How is machismo evolving? Are soccer's governing bodies sitting on their hands when it comes to addressing hate speech? To what extent has Argentinian football culture influenced Mexican soccer culture?...all this and more in our latest episode
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Accounts of violence in Argentinian football run all the way back to the late 19th century, and violence still plagues domestic football today. In a study exploring the predominance of such violent behaviour, William Huddleston writes that ‘Violence has always gone hand in hand with football in Argentina’.
Today William joins us to discuss his study exploring chants sung by fans of River Plate, one of the most storied clubs in South America.
Whilst violence in football is not unique to Argentina, the scale of the problem there is quite astounding: between 5 and 10 people have died from football-related violence every year for the last 25 years, with an average of 9 deaths a year over the past decade. Despite this, there is little understanding of the phenomenon in popular discourse. William’s research drew on over 250 River Plate chants and identified some recurring themes and concepts, with a particular focus on violence, honour, and masculinity. He writes that ‘supporters’ chants reflect and confect a hegemonic form of masculinity which encourages and rewards violence, the acceptance of pain and the forceful emasculation of other men’.
To what extent have players themselves, or the clubs they represent and that are idolised by fans, sought to de-escalate violence? Is football violence over-studied? What is the model of club ownership in Argentina to what extent do club owners have any relationship with those fans involved in violence?...all this and more in our latest episode
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Since the creation of the Premier League in 1992, collective identities developed in resistance to the commercialisation and commodification within football. These in turn have developed into more distinct ‘project identities’ that seek bring about more profound social change through football.
In this episode, we explore the role of fan activism in the debate on patterns of civic and political (dis)engagement in the age of so-called anti-politics. Our guests are Daniel Fitzpatrick of Aston University and Paddy Hoey of Liverpool John Moores University. We discuss:
To what extent was Hillsborough a catalyst for activism, prior to 1992? How has the Fans Supporting Foodbanks campaign overcome tensions between rival groups of supporters? How critical were and are fanzines to building activist networks?All this and more in the latest episode of the Football and Society podcast!
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Follow Danny on Twitter @dfitz_politics
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In this episode, we’re looking at unpaid work in football scouting in men’s professional football in England, joined by Jacob Griffiths of the University of Chester.
While football in England has long been professionalised, with all but two of the English football league’s 86 members registered as private companies, the work of scouts seeking out new talent is often voluntary. A recent study interviewed scouts in unpaid roles to find out more about their motivations and experiences. Jacob Griffiths and Daniel Bloyce interviewed 12 football scouts; these included scouts who had previously worked or were currently working in an unpaid role, along with individuals working in senior roles who had experience employing unpaid scouts.
For several participants, unpaid work as a scout was an extension of their passion for football as a spectator, though there was also an underlying hope for many of them that with enough experience they could land a professional, paid role. This was despite the lack of evidence indicating that working unpaid will guarantee full-time, paid scouting work. The authors of the study saw this as an example of the romanticisation of football, whereby individuals are led to build fantastical hopes on the prospect of ‘making it’ in the game; indeed, several participants perceived their unpaid scouting work as an escape from the mundane routines of ‘normal’ life. As the article notes, however, scouting remains on the periphery of football clubs: the scout operates at an outsider level because they are not traditionally part of the ‘inner sanctum of the backroom staff’.
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Football and Society, a podcast exploring societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game. In this series, we’ll be covering topics such as the Safe Standing campaign and football fan activism in the age of anti-politics
If you like the podcast, please leave us a review so that more people can find it.
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The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (known as the FARC) were formed in 1964, and for over half a century they were locked in a gruelling, bloody struggle with Colombia’s government. During this time, the Colombian authorities attempted to use the national football team as a means of unifying its citizens against the perceived threat of the FARC.
In this episode, Peter Watson joins us to discuss how successive Colombian presidents presented the FARC as the significant Other threatening a sense of national unity - symbolising what he calls ‘Narco-lombia’: the darker, notorious world of drug trafficking, violence, and criminality.
For decades, the FARC was also associated with Communism; early on in the national football team’s history, a draw with the Soviet Union in the 1962 World Cup was heralded as a triumph over Colombia’s Communist foes, with one magazine describing the draw as ‘the most glorious page of Colombian sport in history’.
In later years, Colombia’s political and criminal feuds had a direct and sinister impact on events on the football pitch; Andrés Escobar, who scored an own goal during Colombia's World Cup campaign in 1994, was murdered by men with cartel links on his return to Colombia, a tragedy that rocked the footballing world. 20 years later, as a new national narrative was emerging during peace negotiations between the FARC and the government, President Juan Manuel Santos was using football as a bridge and means of conciliation to incorporate the FARC back into the idea of a national ‘us’.
How did drug cartels infiltrate Colombian football? How did the Colombian government undermine the guerillas using football? How optimistic should we be about Colombia's future?...all this and more in the 36th episode of the Football and Society podcast.
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game. From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.
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In 2018, statistics showed that nearly 400,000 girls in the US played high-school soccer, making it the fourth most-played sport among girls. However, those playing the sport skew towards those who live in areas that are whiter, less black or Latino, more suburban, and less socioeconomically disadvantaged than the national average.
In this episode, Dr Rachel Allison joins us to discuss this disparity and the extent to which soccer is 'a rich white kid sport', as former National Team player Hope Solo claimed in 2018. In the US, a key factor is the ‘pay-to-play pipeline’ where access to the youth club soccer system - a vital stepping stone - is a pathway most available to white and middle-class women from wealthier families. Even those players receiving subsidies in the form of grants and scholarships tended to come from white, affluent places with higher per capita and median household incomes.
Does the US education system offer any opportunities for girls from economically deprived backgrounds to engage in the sport and is the notion of a meritocracy a fallacy?
What are the origins of the term 'Soccer Mom' and what does it say about how soccer itself is regarded in the US compared to other sports?
To what extent is capitalism and the flood of money into women's soccer in the US to blame?…all this and more in the 35th episode of the Football and Society podcast.
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Follow Rachel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/rallis2
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game. From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.
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The rivalry between the two Glasgow-based teams Celtic and Rangers is one of football’s fiercest, and one that has been marred by sectarian divisions between the city’s Catholic and Protestant communities in the past. But how do Glaswegians from other religious and ethnic backgrounds view the ‘Old Firm’ derby?
Today Dr Kieran James joins us to discuss the experiences of Glaswegians of Pakistani descent for their views on the derby. The majority of fans of Pakistani descent who Kieran has spoken to preferred Celtic, for a variety of reasons, including the club's support for the state of Palestine, which includes campaigns and donations made by supporter groups, was highly influential in some of the respondents opting for Celtic over Rangers as their preferred team.
How have the Old Firm clubs engaged (or alienated) fans of Pakistani descent? To what extent is the situation in Scotland similar or different to other countries? Given that Celtic have recently condemned displays of support for Palestine, how has this been perceived in the Muslim community in Glasgow?…all this and more in the 34th episode of the Football and Society podcast.
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If you like the podcast, please subscribe and give us a review via your platform of choice.
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/footballsocpod
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game. From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.
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Éder Lopes’s goal in the 2016 European Championship Final won Portugal its first ever major football trophy, and catapulted him to the status of a ‘national hero’. A recent article argues that the celebration of Éder, born in the former Portuguese colony Guinea Bissau, and other racialised players depends on their ability to perform and assimilate ‘Portuguese culture’.
In this episode, Pedro Almeida joins us to discuss the relation between football, race, nation and colonial past.
Pedro has studied press discourses in Portugal, particularly the narratives that emerged during the 2016 European Championship; in addition, the study draws on interviews with various agents including journalists and former professional players. While the success of the national team in 2016 was perceived and presented by some as a symbol of the re-definition of Portuguese national identity to reflect a multiracial and diverse society, in reality it hasn’t weakened the idea of ‘a national ‘we’, Portuguese and implicitly white, as opposed to ‘they’, African and implicitly black. Pedro writes that Portugueseness is still conceived of today as something innately white in the national imagination.
How does Portugal see is colonial past as somehow different from other nations? To what extent are media stories about populations of Portugal's former colonial possessions enthusiastically celebrating Portugal's success true? How much has the Black Lives Matter movement impacted Portugal?…all this and more in the 33rd episode of the Football and Society podcast.
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If you like the podcast, please subscribe and give us a review via your platform of choice.
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game. From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.
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In 2016, Iceland stunned the footballing world with its performance in the European Championship Finals. The nation of 340,000 reached the quarter-finals of their first-ever major tournament, claiming the scalps of England and Austria along the way.
In this episode, Vidar Halldorsson joins us to discuss Iceland's position as a ‘Black Swan’ in modern elite sport: because of their extraordinary performances
In Iceland, there is no distinction between ‘participation sports’ and ‘performance sports’ as there is in many other countries, and resources tend to be channelled into youth sports rather than elite sports. Regarding Iceland’s success at elite football level, Vidar argues that ‘the key characteristics of the Icelandic national teams, such as players’ enthusiasm, character, sacrifice, friendships and agency, are in part a result of their socialization in the youth sport system.’ He also notes that countries who once adopted the customary international sports model are now turning to the Icelandic model as a way of organising and playing sports.
To what extent have Icelandic coaches been asked to advise other countries?
Is Iceland's community-oriented success due to its small size?
Are there other nations who may emerge as a ‘black swan’ in the near future and what is behind this being a possibility?…all this and more in the 32nd episode of the Football and Society podcast.
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If you like the podcast, please subscribe and give us a review via your platform of choice.
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/footballsocpod
Follow Vidar on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VidarHalldrsson
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game. From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.
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In 2011 the FA Women’s Super League was created, affording female footballers the opportunity to practice the sport professionally for the first time in English football history.
Today we’re joined by Dr Alex Culvin to discuss the lived realities for women currently competing in the Women’s Super League.
Women footballers are competing in an occupational field that is traditionally the preserve of a highly masculine and consequently gender-exclusive culture. Alex’s own experiences as a professional footballer shaped her research aims, particularly the focus on employment and the welfare of players.
We discuss:
What mental health support is there for women in the game?
With women footballers expected to feel ‘grateful’ for the opportunities now afforded and pay parity with men a long way off, might industrial action and striking be a possibility in the near future?
How may the women’s game develop in future?
…all this and more in the 31st episode of the Football and Society podcast.
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If you like the podcast, please subscribe and give us a review via your platform of choice.
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/footballsocpod
Follow Alex on Twitter: www.twitter.com/alexculvin
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game.
From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology. -
In the 1980s, the president of the African Football Confederation stated that 'African football must make a choice' with regards to the exportation and retention of homegrown talent. Yidnekatchew Tessema was highlighting concerns still present today, as more and more African football players opt to play for the European nations where they seek employment as professional athletes.
This week we speak to Professor Wycliffe Njororai Simiyu about the history of African footballers playing in Europe as well as the experiences of players of African descent today.
The earliest players tended to be from French colonial territories, such as Raoul Diagne, who was the first Black footballer to play for France in the 1930s. Other popular destinations for talented players from Africa included Portugal, Belgium, and Britain, and over time these nations have been transformed into multiracial, diverse societies. However, Njororai notes that the ‘mining and export of indigenous football talent for consumption in European markets’ is reflective of ‘broader imperialist and neo-imperialist economic exploitation’; the recruitment of African players is effectively a continuation of the historic economic exploitation of the African continent, within a global capitalist system whose terms are determined by Western industrialized nations.
How the experience of football players of African descent differs to those of African descent in different sports, such as rugby? How effective are anti-racism initiatives such as Show Racism The Red Card? Are African feeder clubs - such as those who partner with Ajax and Tottenham - a help or a hindrance?***
If you like the podcast, please subscribe and give us a review via your platform of choice.
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/footballsocpod
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game.
From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.
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The first FIFA video game was released by EA Sports on 15th July 1993, and since then it has become the most popular and successful soccer video game ever. While in most countries FIFA's popularity followed the popularity of soccer itself, in the US it seems interest in the video game preceded - and may have even boosted - the popularity of the sport.
With his colleague Adam Green, today's guest Andrei Markovits has explored the growth of soccer’s cultural presence in the United States over the past 10–12 years, arguing that one of many factors in soccer’s surge in popularity in the United States has been the FIFA video game series. The game's creator, EA Sports, has actively targeted the US market, using popular American celebrities in its campaigns as well as featuring American soccer stars on the cover of the game itself.
How does FIFA's influence in the US compare with football culture in Japan, where cartoon's led to a boom in soccer's popularity? How much did the US Men's National Team's absence from the 2018 World Cup affect enthusiasm for the sport in the country? Do e-sports pose a threat to physical sport?***
If you like the podcast, please subscribe and give us a review via your platform of choice.
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/footballsocpod
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game.
From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.
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Over the past 20 years Qatar has hosted international tournaments in a range of sports including tennis and golf, but it has never hosted a sporting mega event such as the football World Cup. The 2022 Men’s World Cup, to be held in Qatar next year, will be the first to be hosted by an Arab nation.
Preparations for the tournament have been surrounded by controversy, with allegations of bribery during the bidding process as well as the reported deaths of foreign workers employed to build the venues, but a recent study suggests that Qatar has demonstrated greater flexibility and sensitivity in its response to these controversies than many people think. In an article published in the Soccer & Society journal in 2019, Dr Thomas Ross Griffin focuses on the manner in which the Gulf State has addressed the concerns of its critics.
How will the Qatar side fare on the pitch, and to what extent is this a priority for the hosts? To what extent will the Qataris' success embolden future bids from other countries of the Muslim world? How should we read critical Western press coverage in the lead-up to the tournament?...all this and more in the 28th episode of the Football and Society podcast.
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Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/footballsocpod
Follow Thomas on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RossGriffinQU
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game.
From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.
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In Indonesia, soccer is everywhere: on newsstands, a city’s soundscape, fashion boutiques, and in the graffiti and murals of city walls. While in recent years violence has erupted between fans and corruption scandals have rocked the domestic league, it remains arguably the most intensely fought-over cultural product in contemporary Indonesia.
Andy Fuller has explored fandom in the two cities of Solo and Yogyakarta, two long-established cultural rivals both claiming to be heirs to Javanese high culture. An ex-player interviewed for the study reminisced over the ‘good old days’ and lamented the decrepit state of Indonesian soccer today, partly due to allegations of corruption involving his old team PSS Sleman, who were accused of match-fixing when their game against PSIS Semarang saw five own goals scored after the 87th minute. The domestic league has also been plagued by violence that saw the death of Muhammad Ikhwanuddin, a PSCS Cilacap supporter, at the hands of PSS Sleman supporters in October 2014.
The rise of PSS Sleman and its supporter groups, Andy states, is a result of the ‘era of decentralization’ that led to a greater sense of identification with one’s team. Indonesian football is effectively an intersection of mainstream politics, identity politics, and negotiations of hetero-normative masculinity, and also the playing field for a diverse range of religious and youth gangs.
To what extent is football-related violence normalised in Indonesia? How has the post-Suharto era impacted on football culture? To what extent are Indonesian fans influenced by European football culture, and how do they adapt these cultures to suit their local context?...all this and more in the 27th episode of the Football and Society podcast.
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Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/footballsocpod
Follow Andy on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ReadingSideways
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game.
From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.
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In recent years, the money invested in sports betting has reached staggering levels. In the EU alone, the value of online betting is estimated at £16.5 billion. But it’s not only in Europe that sports betting has become so widespread. Soccer-betting houses are an emerging and growing phenomenon in Zimbabwe.
In this episode, Dr Manase Kudzai Chiweshe joins us to discuss the history of sports betting in Zimbabwe and the forms it takes today.
Betting was virtually non-existent in pre-colonial Zimbabwe, but the introduction of a money economy after its colonisation created both a market for gambling and the accompanying sporting activities. However, as the colonial government of Southern Rhodesia at the time was concerned with the social problems gambling might create, legislation was introduced - forcing punters underground until the mid-20th century. Today, economic hardship and unemployment in Zimbabwe have fuelled the rise of sports betting and, in a worrying trend, gambling in soccer-betting houses as a livelihood option is becoming more and more common among the unemployed.
To what extent is the regime and the social and economic policies of the former president Robert Mugabe culpable for the rise in problematic soccer betting in Zimbabwe?
With punters potentially spiralling into debt in order to finance gambling, has this seen the rise of any criminal element, i.e. loan sharks looking to exploit people in dire circumstances?
Gamblers in Zimbabwe often don't see soccer betting as gambling at all. How do they navigate this cognitive dissonance and what is behind it?...all this and more in the 26th episode of the Football and Society podcast.
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Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/footballsocpod
Follow Manase on Twitter: www.twitter.com/manasekudzai
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game.
From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.
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In the past three decades, English men’s football has undergone considerable structural and social change. Ongoing commitment by the footballing authorities to tackle discrimination has led to the diversification of fandom inside English stadia, including the emergence of LGBT Fan Groups throughout the country.
Dr Rory Magrath interviewed 35 gay male fans of various professional clubs for a study looking into their experiences and their sense of place in football. The study found that English football is now an overwhelmingly inclusive environment, evidenced by the growing number of LGBT fans attending matches and the decline of discriminatory chanting.
This is partly attributed to the increase in LGBT fan groups, of which there are over 40 across English professional football; among the participants were seven founders or co-founders of such groups. Most of the supporters interviewed for the study said that Fan Groups provided the chance to establish a safe community and a sense of belonging, with the potential to affect social change on English football. While it was clear that these groups had encouraged greater involvement among LGBT fans, some argued that fan groups were now redundant given the increasingly inclusive environment at stadia, and even went so far as to state that Fan Groups nowadays are actually ‘othering’ gay fans unnecessarily.
Are there particular clubs who deserve particular praise for their support of LGBT fan groups?
To what extent do gay male fans engage in hyper-masculine behaviours associated with football fandom in order to ‘gain acceptance’ or ‘fit-in’ to an arena where they have been historically excluded?
What is the perception of initiatives such as the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign?...all this and more in the 25th episode of the Football and Society podcast.
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If you like the podcast, please subscribe and give us a review via your platform of choice.
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/footballsocpod
Follow Rory on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RoryMagrath
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game.
From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.
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