From internet swear words to stadium violence in football (soccer) games – An Israeli case study

Abstract

This study explored the relevancy of internet discourse among football fans and real-life stadium violence. Our hypothesis implies that there are positive correlations between violent utterances in fans’ social networks prior to games and football stadium violence. The study sample included 6 football clubs who participated in the Israeli Premier League in the 2015–2016 season. The traffic in the social networks was automatically collected into the MySQL database. The content of the traffic includes various forms of discursive interactions within social networks susceptible of predicting, provoking or expressing social tension, aggression or violent behavior. We focused on three discursive functions which reflect a dynamic of discursive construction of tension: exclamation; incitement; and verbal aggression. The results indicate a build-up of tension 3 days before the game and such build-up is correlated with stadium violence of both fans and players. The correlation of content and timing of traffic was also found when controlling the level of violence of the football club. Violent traffic was also correlated with the results of the previous game. The theoretical and practical consequences of these results are discussed.

The Complex Club-Fan Relationship: A Glimpse into Stakeholders’ Experience With the Aggressive Interventions of Fans

“…From an Israeli standpoint, this rather distressing situation could be viewed as a local cultural phenomenon. Studies show that Israeli football is characterized by destructive aggression and violence, exhibited by fans and ultras on-pitch and off-pitch alike (e.g., Ben Porat, 2016;Ben Shalom et al, 2019). Scholars have also addressed the high levels of aggression displayed by Israeli football professionals, namely, how the players relate to their opponents, the managers' aggression towards the referees, and insufficient managerial efforts to put a stop to such aggression (Shuv-Ami & Toder-Alon, 2022).…”

‘It’s become fashionable’: Practitioner perspectives on football hooliganism involving young people

“…Instead young people may be attempting to emulate hooligan subculture, not just on a match day but through online platforms. As suggested by Shalom et al (2019), the use of social media can lead to more disorder at football events. Hall (1978) and Melnick (1986) occurring, enticing young people to immerse themselves in hooligan subculture.…”

Micro-Sociology and New Wars: Visual Analysis of Terror Attacks During the “Intifada of the Individuals”

“…Military sociologists usually do not study the micro processes of violence and are often interested in the state level of violence. This trend leaves the belligerent actions unexplored and not very well understood (Ben-Shalom & Benbenisty, 2017). The current study connects the “macro” narrative of “New Wars” (Kaldor, 2013) with “micro”-level analysis of violence allowing interpretation of terror attacks belligerency which is highly relevant in today’s conflicts.…”