The Formation of a Collective Identity Through Expressions of ‘Love’ and ‘Hate’: An Exploratory Analysis of the Discourse of Football Fans in Germany and France
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18778/1505-9065.16.14Keywords:
collective identity, football, hateful expression, expressions of affiliation, Germany, FranceAbstract
Football is an exemplary platform where the social dynamics within and between societies can be regularly observed. In addition, online message boards are a rich resource of everyday expressions where football fans express their ‘love’ of their clubs as well as their ‘disdain’ for others. We conducted a qualitative content analysis during two seasons of Olympique de Marseille and FC Bayern Munich as well as Toulouse FC and Hannover 96. Our analysis illustrates that hateful expressions that differentiate groups are much more prevalent and therefore more determinant in the formation of a collective identity. Furthermore, the analysis confirms that the self-conception corresponds to the performance of the teams. While fans of top clubs portray themselves in a positive way because of their team’s sporting performance, fans of teams who are battling against relegation define themselves more in a negative way – feeling a form of inferiority – in order to differentiate themselves whilst still remaining attached to their own club as the club motto implies.
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