How fan power is challenging football culture

Football fans are mobilising to campaign against discrimination and to have a say in the way their clubs are run.

1 September 2016

Dr Mark Doidge, Senior Research Fellow in the College of Social Sciences, will be speaking on “fan activism” at the British Science Festival, hosted by Swansea University and supported by Siemens, between 6-9 September.

Dr Doidge said: “Earlier this year, thousands of Liverpool fans walked out of their football match against Sunderland in protest to the decision to increase ticket prices. This is one of many examples of fan activism as they struggle to shape the direction of their clubs.

“Football fans represent one of the most active political groups in contemporary Europe. By ‘political’, it’s not necessarily around ideological politics of left and right, even if this does come into it. By ‘political’, it is about mobilising as a group to champion fan culture, to lobby politicians and to challenge legal and police repression.

Mark Doidge

Dr Mark Doidge

Liverpool vs Chelsea

Liverpool vs Chelsea, photo by Sanjiva Persad

“Often fans will be seen in a negative light – such as the violence between fans of Russia and England in France in the summer, or racism in the stadiums. But thousands of fans are actively campaigning against discrimination and fighting for the rights of fans.”  

The talk will involve Alan Lewis from Swansea City Supporters Trust who will be discussing trust and fans being on the board of clubs. Dr Doidge will put this into a European context and the growing difference between the commercial interests of owners with fans.

Their discussion will be on 7 September at 5pm in the University of Swansea’s Faraday Building.