DEVIENCE IN SPORT Hooliganism

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DEVIENCE IN SPORTHooliganism!

• by
• Chris Embling

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Hooligans at football matches
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The aftermath of hooliganism Heysel Stadium
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What are the causes of Hooliganism?

• Violence on the pitch by players
• Ritualised support behaviour of fans
• Importance of game e.g. Derby or cup game
• Alcohol
• Unemployment/boredom
• Working class - aggression/male youth attitudes
• Influence of organised groups within the crowd
  e.g. National Front
• Expression of discontent

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Player behaviour on the Pitch can Influence off
the Pitch activities
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Manchester United v Arsenal September 2003
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• These factors interrelate, some factors relate to
  the game itself, some arise from within society
  and find expression through sports spectating
• Hooliganism is not as apparent in some contact
  sports such as boxing or rugby!

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Ways in which the media contribute to football
hooliganism

• Media reports help to form attitudes of public
  and politicians/decision makers
• Media can create an atmosphere in which rational
  appraisal is difficult
• Use of derogatory terms e.g. thugs savages
• Media reports reinforce public belief that
  hooliganism is a major threat
• Media contribute to moral panic
• Media reporting is often biased not just
  reporting events

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Media reports can influence spectator behaviour
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Factors which could cause hooliganism at World
Games
Influence of groups e.g National Front
Alcohol
To show National superiority
Influence of past conflicts
Ritualism
Challenge to authority e.g. police
Excitement seeking
To impress/ particular group to be accepted
Addictive
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Police presence at International matches!
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What measure have been taken to combat
hooliganism?

• All seater stadiums
• All ticket matches
• Improved ground facilities
• Improved ticket prices
• Attempts to attract new types of fans e.g.
  families
• Refusal of tickets for away supporters
• Increase number and training of
  stewards/marshalls
• FA/Club/police campaigns

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Crimestoppers campaign to stop hooliganism
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• Closed circuit TV surveillance
• Banning of alcohol and cans from grounds
• Seizure of weaponry
• Bans for misconduct
• Membership schemes
• Harsher penalties for offenders e.g. larger
  fines/custodial sentences
• Refusal of entry to pubs pre-match

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Current evidence of football hooliganism

• Deliberately organised pitch invasion to stop
  game
• Racially motivated abuse
• General obscene chanting/swearing etc
• Large scale fracas with opposing fans
• Violent/destructive confrontation with police
• Herd effect in which large numbers of fans are
  drawn into acts and situations
• Damage to property inside and outside the ground
• Hard core belief that fighting is an integral
  part of going to the match

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Ritualised aggression

• Marsh 1978 stated that football aggression is a
  ceremonial system for resolving conflict
• He saw aggressive behaviour at football matches
  as ritualised and organised
• The aggressive behaviour has rules and structure
• A great deal of this behaviour is not of a
  serious nature.

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Reaction to middle class colonisation of football

• Football has been traditionally working mans
  game
• Increasing numbers of middle-classes now attend
  matches due to all seater stadiums more family
  attendance corporate hospitality
• Taylor (1971) suggests football is now a passive
  spectator sport rather than a participatory
  spectator sport - rise in hooliganism is a
  response to this loss of control

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Expressions of Masculinity
Male
Young
Working Class?
Try to impress peers
Expressing belief of superior gender
Basic dominant/ tribal behaviour
Singing/chanting baiting of opposing fans
Demonstration of strength
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Latest Statistics

• In the 2002/3 season soccer related offences
  increased by 19 to 4,793 offences
• Fuelling fears that middle class families could
  be driven away from the game by a return to a
  1970s style thuggery
• Arrests made for racist chants has risen by 37

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• 3,695 of the total arrest took place in the
  Premier League
• 1886 for public disorder
• 1216 for alcohol offences
• 435 violent disorder
• Arrests of England fans rose from 68 to 261 (50
  of these in qualifier against Turkey)
• Manchester United had most fans arrested - 186
• Sunderland were next with 185
• Charlton Athletic had the best record in the PL
  with 17 arrests
• In 2002/3 1794 fans were banned from attendance
  at football matches