Analysis of the Sports Fan
The 2006 FIFA World Cup trophy went to Italy after an exciting and heart-stopping show against France. Throughout the YouTube telecast uploaded by an individual with the user name lukaszwm (2009), it can be noticed that baseball fans are constantly heard at the background as the commentator narrates the highlights of the game. The same is true with the Champions League Finals where Manchester emerged victorious, which can be viewed through the series of YouTube videos uploaded by TheSportsman05 (2009). Though the audience appeared in relatively short clips, with the Champions League video having less shots for the fans than the FIFA World Cup video, the behavior and reactions captured can be used to show the personal functions of sports mentioned above.
Sense of Belongingness and Social Identification
While the FIFA World Cup and Champions League are classified as a series of sports games, it also entails competition between the competing countries or European teams who are qualified to participate in the games. The basis for participation in FIFA is the affiliation of the players in the team with a particular nation or a certain territory while that of the Champions League rests solely on the affiliation with the European region. Consequently, the competing teams carry the responsibility of representing their country or areas through their abilities as athletes. Though it is not explicitly said, there is the stigma of being superior in comparison to another country when a team is able to outperform another team in sports. In relation to this, the commentator for the Champions League game mentioned that the winners are heralded as the European Champions that shows the concept of supremacy of the winning team in comparison to the other. The perception of being regarded as better than the other team is also held by the fans because they share the same nationality as that of the athletes or they feel associated with the teams through their passion in sports. In addition to this, the need to support the athletes who are representing their nation or their passion is also created along with the perception of the need to prove their performance against other nations or teams.
The sense of belongingness is expressed by the fans through a variety of means during the game. First, the fans explicitly showed that they belong to a particular team in the game as they wore shirts bearing the same color with that of the official colors intended for their team. During the FIFA game, the stadium is filled with colors of blue, which is the color of the uniforms worn by Italian athletes, and white, which is Frances color. From the short clips shown, most of the people wore blue or white that is meant to be a sign of support for the athletes. Similarly, the clips shown for the Champions League showed people wearing either blue, which represents Chelsea, or red, which represents Manchester United. However, there are also other people who opted to wear different color of shirts but still incorporated something blue or red into their outfit. Interestingly, there is a group of people from the Army who exchanged shirts with the Chelsea players. By doing this, the fans from the Army associated their selves with Chelsea as they wore the color of the team. The use of color as a means of associating with a particular team is also supported by Duncan (2004), who states that color is a method used by the fans to show their connection with a particular team. Another observation with regard to color is that the bleachers in the FIFA game, as seen from a distance, is a mix of blue and white, which does not leave any dominant color for any area in the bleachers. The observation can be a manifestation of the ability of fans supporting one team to coexist with those who support their teams opponents. The absence of a division between the fans shows that they belong to a particular group sharing a common interest, which is football. Likewise, it is a representation of their social affiliations with one another as fans.
On the other hand, there are large areas in the bleachers of the Champions League game that are occupied by people who are wearing blue. On the other areas, there are more people wearing red. There are clear divisions among the fans as some sat in particular areas of the stadium. Through color, the spectators are able to join the group of individuals who support the same team that they wish to support even without engaging in conversations with regard to the teams they affiliate their selves with. Aside from clothing, fans in the Champions League game also made use of props, such as balloons and banners with messages that still bear the official colors of either Manchester or Chelsea.
Second, several individuals also used their national flags to be able to show that they belong to this game and that they belong to a particular team in the FIFA game. A handful of fans carried flags of varying sizes in order to show that they are affiliated with a particular country represented by the athletes. The fans usually waved the flags they carried with them during the times when their teams made it to goal or whenever there is a need for them to uplift the confidence of the athletes. Likewise, these are also used as a statement of oneness with the purpose of representing their countries. Even though the fans do not share the field with the athletes, they are able to contribute towards representing their country through their flags. As for the Champions League, the video did not show any fan carrying the official banner for either of the teams.
The relationship between reactions towards the performance of the team and the sense of identification with the group is directly proportional. The fans who have a high sense of identification with the team they are supporting, such as in the case of the fans who attended the FIFA World Cup and the Champions League, treat the team as an extension of their identities and give more attention to the performance of the team (Bain-Selbo, 2009). Throughout the game, the reactions of the fans towards every action committed by the players are evident which shows that there is a high level of identification with the teams. In fact, one of the fans in the Champions League game was caught biting his nail, which is most likely brought about by anxiety, tension, and nervousness. The behavior of this particular fan shows that his emotions are tied to the game, which is an evidence of a strong attachment for the sport and his regard for it as a part of his life.
Third, there are several shots taken in the Champions League showing people from the upper social strata as they watched the game. These group of individuals are placed in a separate section and are given a more secured and more comfortable area where they can view the game without the inconveniences brought about by the crowd. The presence of a separate section for those who can afford to pay for it showcases another perspective on the social affiliation of fans. During the football game, the division between the different social stratum is still evident. Most likely than not, the people who stayed in this section preferred watching the game from here because of the status symbol that is also associated with this area.
Hostility and Aggression
The games of football are often associated with a sense of violence or aggression among and between the fans and the athletes. Dean (2002) mentions that violence is the sine qua non of the game football and goes further into stating that the history of football is attached to a violent spirit despite the changes undergone by the other elements of the game (p. 148). Likewise, the game is also described to be a violent, rigidly hierarchical, and highly gendered sport (Duncan, 2004, p. 134). There are several sources of hostility and aggression in sports that include the highly active and physical nature of the game (Berger, 2005), the behavior and attitude of the athletes (Heitmeyer Hagan, 2003), and the idea that it is a part of fan support (Fitch Marshall, 2001).
As shown in the video clips, the fans did not display any highly aggressive or hostile behavior towards the players or other fans. However, there are notable behaviors, mostly verbal and gestures that proved to be aggressive and hostile in nature. First, the fans consistently screamed, chanted, booed, and hooted in different parts of the game. When a team is able to make a score, their fans either screamed, chanted, or hooted in favor of the athletes. The fans of the opposing team usually screamed indiscernible words that showed their disapproval with the success of the other team. There are also disapproving grunts heard from a number of fans whenever the opponents are able to succeed andor if their team is left behind in terms of score. Aside from this, fans also shouted whenever the players are given warnings. When listened to carefully, the audio reveals certain individuals shouting louder than the others especially during the times when the feelings are intense. In one of the shots taken after Italy made their first goal in the FIFA game, there seems to be a commotion at the upper part of the bleachers as a group of fans turned to stare at that direction.
Second, gestures are also used by the fans to show emotions of dismay or approval. There are instances where some waved their hands or pumped it in the air whenever their team succeeds in kicking the ball towards the goal. There are some who combined shouting and screaming with hand gestures to show how they felt despite the presence of people around them. When Italy made their first goal, their fans waved their hands and screamed while those in support of France either placed their hands at the back of their heads, as if being arrested, or violently waved their hands at their sides. In the Champions League game, a Manchester fan was shown holding his hand out at his side and shouting indistinguishable words. Likewise, one man was seen slapping the wood in front of him as an athlete was given a red card. Fortunately, there are no gestures that resulted to physical pain towards other people.
In one of the shots taken of the fans in the FIFA game, a girl, wearing either a lingerie or a swimsuit, is shown as she made violent motions with her hands after Italy earned a score. The use of a revealing type of clothing during the football game can not be considered violent but can be a form of aggressive behavior. In the definition of Olweus (1994), negative actions related to aggressive behavior include obscene gestures, verbal and non-verbal harm, or intentional avoidance of complying to an individuals wish. Thus, while the girl did not inflict physical injury to anyone, her outfit can be perceived as obscene depending on the level of acceptance of the other fans.
Violence exhibited through hostilities and aggressive behavior can be the method adopted by the fans in releasing their own aggressive impulses and serves as a cathartic experience (Raney Bryant, 2006, p. 357). Sports, especially those involving a high level of physical aggression, can be used by the spectators to release the negative emotions they have, regardless if these came about due to the game or past experiences. As violent behavior is exhibited by the players, more specifically the behavior of Zidane and the commotion between the players in the Champions League, the fans are encouraged to do the same as it is seen to be a socially acceptable action within that specific social sphere. The ability of players to influence the behavior of the fans can not be discounted especially when former serves as role models to the latter (Bender, 2007). Though the behavior exhibited by the athletes are unaccepted in other areas and instances in the society, the need for aggression during the game can justify the actions they exhibited towards others and these are carried on to the fans.
Cultural Element to Bring Meaning to Life
Throughout the duration of both games, the spectators have expressed their enthusiasm and passion for the game. The fans have consistently showed that football has fulfilled a part of their lives and, to some, has become a way of life through a variety of means. First, the fact that the fans are there shows their great attachment to the sport and considers it as a part of the culture. Tickets to professional games such as the FIFA World Cup and the Champions League are often bought several months before the scheduled date. A person has to be dedicated enough to patiently wait for the tickets, make reservations for it, and spend a considerable amount of money. Aside from this, it would also entail clearing both professional and personal schedules in order to accommodate a game that is several months away. The game is also graced by the presence of important individuals in the society that shows how important the game can be to the fans for it to be attended by people from the upper echelons of society.
Second, the fans, who are mostly English, carry the culture of football with them. European countries are the forerunners in the game of football and the fans relate the historical significance of the game, especially so that it started in their region. Thus, their presence in the football games is a tribute to an aspect of their culture and history. Football, for most of the English people, is a tradition and serves a significant function in their society. Thus, it is considered to be a game where winning means a sense of supremacy and honor, as stated by the commentator in the video of the Champions League.
Third, the fans also used it to bring excitement and emotions to their lives. There are expressions and behavior observed from people that shows how the game brought about emotions that made them feel alive. In the FIFA game, both the fans of Italy and France poured out their emotions as Italy thrust the FIFA cup into the air. During the game, people felt alive as they screamed and carried out actions without much restrictions. Similarly, the Champions League game is filled with the excitement and emotions from the fans. In some parts of the video, fans were shown at the peak of their excitement as they sang out their chants. There are even spectators who are seen biting their nails or standing with their arms wide open.
The FIFA World Cup and the Champions League are two of the most important and sought-after games of football. Fans play an important role in the success of the games as they enhance the morale and confidence of the players through their support. Consequently, sports serve personal functions for the fans, which entail providing a source of belongingness or social affiliations, acting as a socially acceptable outlet for aggression or hostility, and serving as a cultural element that brings meaning to their lives. In both games, the fans are able to manifest the three personal functions that sports served in their lives. There are specific instances shown where sports is able to fulfill the needs of the spectators for belongingness, affiliation, hostility and aggression, and cultural fulfillment. Through these, it is shown that sports play a significant role in the lives of the fans as much as the spectators contribute to the success of sports.
Categories:
0 comments:
Post a Comment