SOCIAL bonding and a desire to protect other fans may be one of the main motivations not only for football hooliganism, but extremist group behaviour in general, according to new Oxford University research.
The study canvassed 465 Brazilian fans and known hooligans, finding that members of super-fan groups are not particularly dysfunctional outside of football, and that football-related violence is more of an isolated behaviour.
Lead author and Postdoctoral researcher at Oxford’s Centre for Anthropology and Mind, Dr Martha Newson, said: “Our study shows that hooliganism is not a random behaviour.
“Being in a super fan group of people who care passionately about football instantly ups the ante and is a factor in football violence.
“Not only because these fans tend to be more committed to their group, but because they tend to experience the most threatening environments, such as being the target of rival abuse.”
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