What is football hooliganism and what social factors underlie it - Essay Example

“Football hooliganism is seen by most to mean violence and/or disorder involving football fans. However there are two very specific types of disorder that have been labeled hooliganism: (a) Spontaneous and usually low level disorder caused by fans at or around football matches (the type that typically occurs at England away matches), and (b) Deliberate and intentional violence involving organized gangs (or firms) who attach themselves to football clubs and fight firms from other clubs, sometimes a long way in time and space from a match.

” (Pearson, 2007) Media has always been actively involved in covering disruptions at football matches and tournaments. Media has played a vital rule in making the general public aware of the concept football hooliganism. Media also takes particular interest in reporting events of football hooliganism as these sensational stories are what the audience really wants to hear. Theses events give tabloids exciting happening events involving violence to report about and such stories increases their magazine or newspapers circulation.

Therefore, media has been criticized time and again for playing an integral part in provoking football hooliganism. “Many researchers, and many non-academic observers, have argued that this sensationalism, together with a predictive approach whereby violence at certain matches is anticipated by the media, has actually contributed to the problem.” (SIRC) “Hooligan formations provide their members with a sense of belonging, mutual solidarity and friendship. Narratives of hooligans reveal how group members claim to ‘look after one another’ and stick together through thick and thin”.

(Spaaij, 2006) “Higher the emotional involvement (represented by high score on the emotionality subscale) the person has with the team, the more likely the individual will cause or participate in incidents.” (Petróczi et al., n.d) “There are several theories, but most sociologists maintain that