Violence in Sports is Because of the Media - Research Paper Example

? Violence and Aggression in Sports is Because of the Media This essay will explore violence in sports and will seek to determine whether or not the largest contributing factor of violence and aggression in sports is as a result of media coverage. Cases for and against this argument will be cited, examined and quantified as to the basis and relation to the subject matter. In addition, epic or historic examples of several instances of violence in sports and the causative agents will be debated upon. A conclusion will hence be drawn as to the validity and weight of the thesis of the essay and a possible means of reducing violence and aggression in sports suggested. Introduction Violence in the field of sports is the physical and verbal actions executed during, around or directly linked to a sports event that are over and beyond the stipulated guidelines of fair play (Atyeo, 2000). This may be a boxing match, football, martial arts or even wrestling. These acts can and to include intentional assault of opposing players, abusive language and gestures towards referees. Threats also constitute violence. The violent and aggressive behavior witnessed in sports is as a result of the content of media coverage. Media (print, televised, audio and networked) has in the past swayed opinions, created and advanced perceptions and supported/ instigated different actions from the public they reach. However, it is worth noting that the media sometimes promote violence in sports unintentionally through live coverage. For example, the National Hockey League (NHL) of Northern America is characterized as lenient and supportive of gross misconduct, such as fighting between players. Hockey fans are entitled to watch the matches and the media is there to facilitate and satisfy this desire but its failure to censor occurrences of physical fights has in the past resulted in instances of violence perpetrated by the fans. For example, after Dave Hanson of Birmingham Bulls engaged Bobby Hull of Winnipeg Jets in a fight during a hockey match, irate Winnipeg fans, who were following the event on live television, camped outside the stadium where they allegedly attempted to assault him (Lewison & Palma, 2012). This essay will examine the role media has played in fostering and fuelling acts of violence and aggression by sports enthusiasts and fans before, during and after sports events proving that the media coverage actively leads to and causes violence and aggression in sports. Discussion Giulianotti and Armstrong (2003) state that, “Modern day sports violence has its roots in western countries and was widely linked to the broadcasting of games on television sets” (p. 6). Popular belief suggests that initial cases of violence were directed and conducted by the working class individuals in an attempt to reclaim the various sports events which were primarily reserved for the rich and affluent members of the society. A decade later, similar incidences of hooliganism sprung up in more countries in Europe. The main reason the media creates and showcases sports violence and aggression is for the purposes of profit maximization through increased viewership and purchase of magazines and newspapers. The society we live in is such that negative reports such as violence, deaths and accidents, during events attracts a considerable amount of public attention as opposed to more informative topics such as economics, healthy living, reforms among others, and the media utilizes this to its advantage. It is for this reason that the media will capitalize on every single opportunity that presents itself to report of violent incidents in sports events, with some glamorizing them and the perpetrators either with or without the knowledge that by doing so, they are just helping to polarize fans depending on their club loyalties. Children watching and reading the reports grow up knowing or thinking that violence in sports is something, which is normal and with such a trend, hooliganism in sports will never be contained (Peter, 2001). Stead (2002) adds that, “Violence and aggression in sports is considered as destructive behavior that is punishable as a criminal offence. Acts of vandalism, intimidation, taunting and physical assault in sports events often lead to violence and aggression” (p. 184). Shouting, chants, fist fights, riots and rampages are all forms of aggression witnessed amongst violent sports fans. It is important to note that contact sports, for example basketball, ice hockey, rugby and American football among others have a higher occurrence of violence started amongst players. An instance of this type of violence is the Detroit Pistons versus Pacers brawl on 19th November 2004 which was to be referred to as the worst brawl in NBA history. The use of various weapons ranging from knives, broken bottles, flares, rockets, Molotov cocktails and hand guns is also characteristic of such incidences. In addition, fans or innocent bystanders fleeing the scenes of such violence have sustained injuries or even died after being crushed under foot or pressed towards stadia gates and other confined spaces while fleeing from the violence. The intervention of police and authorities has often led to the introduction of tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse the rioting crowds. This behavior is often perpetrated during or after a match between two rival teams and is especially initiated by fans of the losing side after or in the final minutes of a game. Violence can erupt in streets neighboring the venue, the host city and even within the ring (Atyeo, 200). Armstrong and Harris (2000) note that, “The coverage the media gives to sports events and commentaries play a significant role in the perceptions of fans and resulting behavior” (p. 428). This is especially the case of sports events between rival teams, clubs or nations. Such events are regularly highly publicized with pre and post game analysis and commentaries. Aggression and violence in games became more rampant in the 70’s and 80’s though it has been difficult to determine whether it is the increased interest of the media in crowd violence and its coverage thereof that led to more reports of occurrence. Meech and Kilborn (2000) affirm that, “Tabloid press for example has been cited to turn events of violence into sensational and remarkable stories in an attempt to increase their sales volumes” (p.12). Tactful use of words, phrases and sentences fuelling anxiety, heated debates and raising expectations amongst fans has resulted as opinions are exchanged. In doing this, the tabloid press have indeed contributed to the problem through intensifying the raging emotions of football fans. The behavior of crowds has over the past era become of as much importance as the matches themselves. As a result, journalists are sent to sports stadia to record in real time the match and the crowd’s behavior. Although sports enthusiasts claim that the media has always blown the facts of instances of aggression and violence in stadiums out of proportion giving an impression that the problem is larger than it actually is, television media has been cited as almost constantly covering instances of sports violence. The constant presence of television cameras at events and their recording of events at and around stadiums have served to validate and to some extent vindicate the tabloid press from allegations of gross sensationalism and exaggeration of their stories on violence. Indeed, Maguire and Poulton (2002) state that, “Liverpool researchers noted that the sensationalist style adopted by tabloid press and other media outlets relied heavily on headlines powerfully worded in war imagery and use of violent metaphors. Furthermore, articles were expertly worded to produce great impact on their readers”. Maguire and Poulton (2002) further found that, “The research that has so far been carried out on the role of media coverage of violence in sports strongly suggests a correlation between the amount and intensity of coverage and the occurrence of cases of violent behavior in most European countries” (p.3). Studies carried out determined that media coverage has in several cases encouraged hooliganism in sports. In reporting football violence, awareness is raised about the problem affecting the society. However, the media has been cited by scholars as being part of the problem and a conflict of interest thus arises. Sensationalism about rowdy fan behavior and violence in stadiums is achieved through media coverage. A fraction of football fans may attempt to avoid areas or matches where incidences of violence may occur. Another fraction of the fans driven by excitement about and interest in watching these incidences and others ready and willing to participate, are more likely to attend and participate in these acts. Media coverage intent on reporting the violent occurrences and even speculatively broadcasting their predictions thus fuel the latter fraction of fans to these events and destructive actions/riots. Furthermore, the prediction the media makes on the outcome of the matches prior to their play contributes to asserting fans’ beliefs of the outcomes. A negative result unexpected by fans on the losing side, having believed that their team would emerge victorious based on popular opinion propagated by the media, can stir up anger and disappointment. A recent baseball game in the United States resulted in the game’s umpire being hit on his arm with a batter’s helmet when it ricocheted from the ground after the batter protested the umpire’s decision. On exit, a glass of beer was hurled at the umpire from the crowds. Stewart (2001) adds that, “Disappointment is hard to accept and the winning team’s fans visible celebrations within and around the stadium rouses emotions of anger, frustration and even contempt” (p.11). Amongst a group of such individuals the likelihood of venting these negative emotions through violence is all too obvious and aggression, destruction of property and assault on opposing fans are likely to ensue. A case in point is the death of 39 fans of Juventus (Italian football club) that resulted on May 29, 1985 at a European Cup final in Heysel Stadium, Brussels after a fraction of a wall in the stadium collapsed as the Juventus fans retreated from enraged Liverpool (English football club) fans, who were stampeding towards them. Another contribution the media makes to sport violence and aggression, is, according to Stead (2002), that “The media offers coverage to hooligans and rowdy fans who on their part relish the attention and publicity” (p. 186). Researchers have identified that in all the countries with cases of sports hooliganism and significant levels of violence and aggression, the perpetrators relish the media coverage and publicity they receive. In fact, these rowdy and ill-intent fans have been noted to actively seek this coverage and publicity, and rival clusters of fans compete actively to acquire the spot light in terms of the length of columns in articles and the extent of the sensational/ captivating headlines accorded to their exploits. The xenophobic approach in which the media, especially the tabloid press, covers matches both local and international has also been cited by researchers as contributing to forms of violence in stadiums. For example, a direct relation between the quality and coverage of games by the British press, which has been severally criticized on this basis, to the fans belligerent and rowdy behaviors is evident. Though media coverage has been cited as causing most of the violence and aggression, arguments have been postulated vindicating it and also explaining positive effects of media coverage of sports events. One such argument is the positive benefit arising from the extensive visual or televised displays of non violent fans in groups or carnivals openly supporting their teams within cordial and friendly atmospheres. Stead (2002) states that, “Coverage of proud fans reveling in a carnival mood has in positive ways portrayed the ideology that ‘it is just a sport’ and if you are not having fun, it is not worth the trouble” (p. 188). Such groups of enthusiasts are the Roligans of Denmark and the Tartan Army of Scotland. These two groups actively voice their sentiments against aggression and violence while promoting exemplary/ pleasant behavior among sports enthusiasts. A more substantive argument against the role of the media in violence is that though the media coverage of most games seldom and infinitesimally varies, the nature and cause of disorders does, with each situation or occurrence, not. Stead (2002) state that, “Casual factors and cultural factors are identified to also contribute, as well as the game dynamics. Dogmatic approaches attempting to explain cross cultural variations in cases of aggression have failed to exhaustively explain and elaborate these variations and effects” (p. 191). A universal explanation is thus incomprehensive as the extent, frequency and nature of different acts of violence may depend on some or all of the following factors: historical background, cultural factors, social classes, prevalent economic climate and even political influences. For example, Italian sports events have been plagued by cases of violence stemming from past antagonisms of regions. In game dynamics, researchers have observed a common trend across most nations globally of the initiation, progression and growth of violent acts common to many matches. In most games, the initial aggression results sporadically and is often directed towards the main participants of the game, the referees and players, during the game. This is closely followed by violence directed towards opposing fans and as the police become involved to calm the violence, they also become targets. The final stage is between the two opposing groups of fans outside the gymnasium or stadium and is characterized by a greater number of violent and dangerous encounters. This sequence of events therefore suggests that during the match, when the violence erupts, the media has no involvement in its happening and though present in the form of reporters, it is not divulging information directly and instantaneously contributing to or fuelling the violence. Tudor (2010) adds that, “Another form of aggression is the utterance of racist remarks, gesticulations and racist chants. In Europe, these are often directed primarily towards players of African descent.” Public opinion and the media suggest that racism by fans is an issue of utmost seriousness and has proven to be problematic and a causative factor of outbreaks of violence, especially at international sport events. The role played by racism amongst fans towards the eruption of stadium violence is however unclear from the onset but is an issue under intense debate. In Britain, between the 70s and 80s, players were often attacked with bananas and monkey noises due to their darker skin color. Such cases have subsided on the British soil though in Germany, Austria and Spain, there are indications of persistence of this problem. Though the media may often contribute positively to the recession and reduction in cases of violence in sports through coverage of positive sentiments and activities carried out by conformist fans, its cumulative effect is negative so long as sensationalism, pre match commentaries and predictions are still practiced and distributed. In addition, instances of positive fan groups’ behavior are isolated incidents against the backdrop of club epic and long standing club rivalries. These positive anecdotes, therefore, have little to no effect on fans’ emotions, expectations and reactions. Furthermore, denying hooligans seeking publicity for their acts media coverage will consequently deny media houses the much needed viewer ratings and sales volumes, and this is counterproductive. There is no record to indicate that racism in sports is directly instigated by the media. The society is to blame for racist acts and elimination of this vice should be done at its source, the basic unit of society-the nuclear family and people’s minds. The media can indeed play a role in curbing racist practices and mind sets since it is well situated to reach individuals directly in the comfort of their living spaces and residences. In this respect, the media can help overcome and annihilate one of humanity’s greatest undoing, racism (Tudor, 2010). Conclusion The role played by the media has in the past six decades been inclined to the negative and to the detriment of the fans, players and sports. Numerous instances of riots and violence during sports events have been witnessed and, as explained, fuelled by media coverage in one way or another. The hope for a future free of riots, violence and aggression in sports is uncertain. To curb the exploitation and manipulation of sports events by the media towards increased cases of violence and aggression, the existing rules of fair play in every sport should be enforced with stricter penalties. Sports clubs, which have rowdy and violent fans, should suffer consequences such as suspension, complete or partial ban from participating in any live events. This measure would act as a deterrence factor, as it would compel clubs and their managers to focus on promoting peace and true sportsmanship during events. In addition, content from the media should be continuously screened for the broadcast of suggestive inclinations towards aggression and violence. The use of features such as slow motion and replay while broadcasting live matches should also be banned as it creates a circumstance whereby viewers are facilitated with an avenue to examine and criticize decisions made by referees, which are sometimes erroneous and capable of causing reactive aggression. The media is an integral part of sports and collaborative efforts directed towards positive and friendly encounters in events must be exercised and exist between the media, sports organizations and enthusiasts. References Armstrong, G., & Harris, R. (2000). Theory and Evidence of Violence and Aggression. Sociological Review, 39(3), 427-58. Atyeo, D. (1979). Blood & Guts: Violence in Sports, How Does It Affect Our Lives? Paddington Press. Giulianotti, R., & Armstrong, G. (2003). Ungentlemanly Conduct: Violence, the Media and the Construction of Notoriety. Department of Sociology, University of Aberdeen. Lewison, R., & Palma, O. (2012). The Morality of Fighting in Ice Hockey: Should It Be Banned? Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 36(1), 106-112. Maguire, J., & Poulton, E. (2002). European Identity Politics in EURO 96: Invented Traditions and National Habitus Codes. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 34 (1), 17–29. Meech, P., & Kilborn, R. (2000). Media and Identity in a Stateless Nation: The Case of Scotland. Media, Culture and Society, 14, 245-55. Peter, T. (2001). Determinants of Violence in Sport. Quest, 45(2), 100-116. Stead, D. (2002). Sport and the Media. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 30(10), 184-200. Stewart, J. (2001). The Commoditization of Sport. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 22(3), 171–92. Tudor, A. (2010). Sports Reporting: Race, Difference and Identity: The Media in Question. Sage. Read More