An insider’s evaluation of violence and sports culture
CW: mentions of domestic violence, misogyny, homophobia, racism, and suicide (in the links)
This post is something that’s been sitting in my drafts for awhile now and I’ve kinda struggled to get all my thoughts out but with Italy having won yesterday, I finally got everything I wanted to say out.
I’ve been thinking about how and why sports culture and violence are so intertwined. Domestic violence will increase post-match no matter the result. During the 2010 World Cup, domestic violence increased 27.7% when England won a match and increased 33.9% when they lost.
More specifically it's the drinking that leads to excessive violence but there are also larger issues of misogyny, homophobia, and racism that encompass the violence committed by fans. This is why it's so important for UEFA, FIFA etc. and other sports federations like the NFL and NHL to combat misogyny, racism, and homophobia. But, as we know, they often don’t because their target audience (cishet white men) aren't affected by these issues.
I’m so sick of the performative bullshit these federations do. It’s not a question of political correctness, it never has been. Their primary audience and fans are a breeding ground for dangerous thoughts and actions and honestly it's irresponsible for them to do nothing about it. When ignorance is allowed to exist and thrive in a community, marginalized groups are hurt. The rise in domestic violence rates, harassment and assault of poc, and the fear experienced by queer individuals are evidence of this.
As a queer Asian woman who is both a fan and ex-player, I’ve been on the receiving end of racism, misogyny, and homophobia. Being Asian, I’ve never quite felt like I belong, something further exacerbated by the fact that I am also female—and as a player, I’d often be the only poc on the field. At camps, I’d often overhear crude, snide ‘jokes’ about my eyes and queer slurs being thrown around as insults.
The simple act of excusing ‘jokes’ or ‘banter’ within sports allows more explicit racism, misogyny, and homophobia to exist and be excused—and by doing so, they make it difficult for members of these affected groups to be able to actively participate in sports without worrying about their safety. It’s not enough to simply say ‘kick racism out’ or release a bullshit statement about how you support lgbtq+ rights but not really, UEFA, FIFA, CONCACAF, the NHL, the NFL, the Olympics Committee and all others, NEED to take a hard stance against even the smallest of infractions. There’s nothing political about ensuring the safety of fans of color, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Actions speak louder than words and right now, only empty, meaningless words are being thrown around.
More on sports-related domestic violence:
https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/dp1781.pdf
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jul/04/early-kick-offs-linked-to-more-alcohol-abuse-and-violence-in-the-home
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3712874/
More on misogyny in sports:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/02/22/toxic-masculinity-sports-sexism-don-mcpherson/
https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/30/football-needs-women-sexism-in-the-game-is-costing-lives-10819034/
More on racism in sports:
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/kevin-prince-boateng-soccer-racism
https://href.li/?https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/antonio-ruediger-champions-league-soccer-racism-chelsea
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/12/world/europe/england-european-championships-racism.html
https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/racism-soccer-epidemic-mirrors-disturbing-trends-europe-advocates/story?id=67850877
More on homophobia in sports:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/24/despite-its-best-intentions-football-remains-unwelcoming-of-gay-fans
https://theathletic.com/2382097/2021/02/14/we-know-justin-fashanu-died-now-let-us-hear-how-he-lived/
https://news.sky.com/story/unnamed-premier-league-footballer-reveals-he-is-gay-in-letter-but-says-he-cant-go-public-12026295
