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Narratives About Football Hooliganism in Brazil: (De)constructing the Label “Violent Supporter”

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Football and Social Sciences in Brazil

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Abstract

This chapter aims to contribute to the understanding of the construction process of the “violent supporter” category through the analysis of news reports, government reports, laws, and academic productions. In carrying out this analysis, I argue that the texts, figures, and images that form the narratives conveyed in these materials often contribute to convert the football violence phenomenon into a thing, into something objective, regardless of an observer. I also show that these narratives convey the myth of non-violence, which makes one believe that the relationships established in the football universe are essentially peaceful. Moreover, I indicate that this idea leads to the stigmatization of fans (seen as) violent, legitimating, among other things, the expansion of criminal punishment. I also argue that the label of violence is attached mainly to a specific group: organized fans. Finally, I discuss some logical and social consequences of this stigmatization, such as the legitimization of the control of these fans and their exclusion from the decision-making bodies of the football spectacle organization.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Happened in the finals of the 1995 São Paulo Juniors Super Cup, after organized supporters of Palmeiras and São Paulo teams invaded the playing field and clashed with sticks, stones, and other artifacts, resulting in the death of a fan (Lopes, 2019).

  2. 2.

    The discourse of science also constantly reinforces this ideology by using the impersonal (“it is observed,” “it is concluded,” “it is affirmed,” etc.) and realistic (“to reveal,” “to uncover,” “to evince,” etc.) language, which makes one believe in the existence of a reality independent of an observer.

  3. 3.

    This does not mean that, eventually, “excesses” may not occur, resulting in serious bodily injury and death. Nor does it mean that some clashes between organized groups of supporters are not effectively aimed at the elimination of a rival—including internal ones, as happens when there is a dispute for power within the same grouping.

  4. 4.

    Which does not mean that they are not necessarily attended to. To keep Corinthians’ example in mind: due to pressure from the club's organized groups, the Board of Directors decided to remove the seats from the northern sector of the Corinthians Arena, where they are located.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sorocaba, Sorocaba, Brazil

    Felipe Tavares Paes Lopes

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  1. Felipe Tavares Paes Lopes
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Sérgio Settani Giglio

  2. Institute of Economics, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Marcelo Weishaupt Proni

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Lopes, F.T.P. (2021). Narratives About Football Hooliganism in Brazil: (De)constructing the Label “Violent Supporter”. In: Giglio, S.S., Proni, M.W. (eds) Football and Social Sciences in Brazil. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84686-2_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84686-2_27

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-84685-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-84686-2

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