Whether they helped bring down Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, marched against their club’s owner at Chelsea or pushed back against plans to commercialize football, fans are using their passion for the game to fight for causes. Whether their protests are big or small, they demonstrate that fan activism is more than just a trend.
As long as fans have been in love with TV shows and sports teams, they have used their devotion to them to push for change. From letter-writing campaigns and billboards to boycotting matches and even hunger strikes, fans have fought for their right to express themselves.
When a show or character is cancelled, it can be devastating for the fans who rely on them to create community and identity. Fans have protested the cancellation of their favorite shows for decades, and the stories of these protests can help us understand why fans are so vehement about their cause.
The story of Les Hijabeuses, a group of women who organize protests against discrimination in French football, highlights some of the challenges that face fans who use their passion for sport to seek justice. The story also highlights the importance of examining the intersections between race, class and sexuality in sports fan activism.
Finally, the story of Crystal Palace supporters’ protest against their club’s owner and Uefa’s decision to demote them from European competition illustrates the power of fan activism to promote a particular political agenda. The paper by Rookwood and Hoey examines how digital spaces are important sites for the production of authentic fan voices in late capitalism, highlighting how these spaces can provide a platform for fans to express their local, political and cultural identities.