Violence in sport

• Violence in sport

  Physical acts committed to harm others in sports such as American football, Rugby, football and ice hockey
• Television match official

  TMO
• Television match official

  Rugby league uses this as a referee who can review plays by looking at by footage as and when asked to be the on field referee
• Hooliganism

  Acts of vandalism and violence in public places committed especially by youths
• Football hooliganism

  Unruly, violent and destructive behaviour by ice-zealous supporters of association football clubs
• Suggest possible reasons why a performer may become violent during a sporting contest.


  • Win-at-all-costs ethic/pressure to win/high financial rewards at stake/job at stake

  • Retaliation against an opponent/crowd

  • Frustration with officiating

  • Importance of event, e.g. local derby/local rivalry/pre-match hype/over-psyched

  • Nature of game - violence is part of it, e.g. ice hockey

  • Lack of effective deterrents (e.g. NGB punishments/sanctions)
• Hooliganism is sometimes associated with young males, who are often drunk, as a sign of their masculinity. Identify other causes of spectator violence at football matches.

  • Emotional intensity/ritual importance of the event, e.g. a local derby; team loyalty taken to extremes

  • Pre-match media hype stirring up tensions between rival fans

  • Poor policing/stewarding/crowd control (e.g. this was one of the key reasons identified for the Hillsborough Stadium disaster in 1989)

  • Lack of effective deterrents/punishments to discourage individuals from involving themselves in violence at football matches

  • Diminished responsibility by individuals in a large group (i.e. a football crowd); organised violence as part of a gang/peer pressure to get involved in violence

  • Reaction of working-class fans to middle class taking over 'their' game

  • Poor officiating or frustration with match officials, which can heighten tensions between rival fans

  • Violence by players on the pitch being reflected in the crowd

  • Religious discord, e.g. at a Celtic versus Rangers match, where tensions are

  particularly high between rival fans

  • A negative violent reaction occurring as a result of chants/taunts by rival fans

  • Frustration at one's own team losing, which can lead some in the crowd to become violent
• Identify the negative effects of hooliganism for law-abiding football fans.

  • Fan violence can lead to poor treatment of legitimate fans/supporters.

  • Fans are 'herded' through the streets to reach the stadium and after the game, to take transport home.

  • All fans following a particular team are treated with suspicion and distrust.

  • All fans of a particular team are banned from certain matches/for a certain time period as a result of the violent/negative actions of individuals following their club.
• Explain the negative implications of hooliganism for the sport of football.

  • A negative image of sport causes a decline in participation rates/smaller foundation base in football.

  • A negative image of football leads to a decrease in live spectator attendances.

  • Supporters are banned from travelling/attending matches, or matches are played behind closed doors.

  • All supporters at football matches are treated as hooligans as a result of police suspicions and frequent violence.

  • Teams are banned from competing or they may lose points or be fined, which punishes the football clubs for the acts of their 'fans'.

  • Sponsors/commercial deals are withdrawn from clubs/players/NGBs due to the negative publicity/poor image of the game.

  • Additional costs to police events/provide more stewards can place financial pressures on clubs, particularly at lower levels of the game.

  • The relationship with other countries declines/negative impact for hosting future major football competitions as a result of the negative reputation of a country's sporting followers.
• Identify the possible solutions to violent behaviour among spectators in high-level sports such as football. (4)

  • Kick-off times imposed by police (early to avoid/decrease alcohol consumption)

  • Control of alcohol sales; pubs banned from opening prior to kick-off

  • Introduction of all-seater stadia/crowd segregation/football promoted as familyfriendly entertainment

  • Tougher deterrents/prosecution of violent individuals

  • Specific laws passed, e.g. against trespass on pitch

  • Violent individuals banned from grounds/travel abroad

  • Increased security at events/increased policing/police 'intelligence'

  • Use of CCTV to monitor fan/spectator behaviour in and around grounds

  • More responsible media reporting prior to matches
• Elite sport performers are expected to act as positive role models for others to follow. Outline possible reasons why an elite performer might act in an over-aggressive way which is deemed unacceptable by society. (4)

  • Pressure to win from media/fans/sponsors

  • Pressure to win linked to the importance of the event

  • Financial rewards at stake

  • Fear of losing contract in a hire-and-fire world

  • Retaliation against a performer (e.g. foul play) or the crowd (e.g. chants) or decisions of officials

  • Development of win-at-all-costs attitude/frustration with own performance and/or that of the team (i.e. you are losing)
• Using psychological theories, suggest reasons why sports performers may display acts of violence and outline possible strategies NGB's could use to eliminate such behaviour. (15) *
• Suggest three possible reasons why a performer becomes violent during a sporting contest.

  Win-atl-all-costs ethic/pressure to win/high financial rewards/job at stake.

  Retaliation against an opponent or crowd.

  Frustration with poor officiating.

  Importance of event e.g. local derby with pre-match hype.

  Nature of the game e.g. violence in ice hockey.

  Lack of effective deterrents.
• Outline the possible causes of spectator violence such as football hooliganism.

  Emotional intensity/ritual importance of the event e.g. rivalry, team loyalty taken to extremes.

  Alcohol over-consumption.

  Pre-match media hype stirring up tensions between rival fans.

  Poor crowd control.

  Lack of effective deterrents/punishments.

  Diminished responsibility by individuals in a large group/peer pressure.

  Reaction of working class to middle class taking over 'their' game.

  Poor officiating.

  Violence on pitch impacts crowd.
• Explain the negative implications of hooliganism for the sport of football.

  Negative image of sport causes decline in participation rates.

  Spectator attendance declines.

  Supporters banned from attending matches or matches played behind closed doors.

  All supporters treated as hooligans.

  Teams banned/fined/lose points.

  Sponsor deals withdrawn.

  Additional costs to police events.

  Relationship with other countries decline, negative impact for hosting future events.
• Identify three negative effects of hooliganism for law-abiding football fans.

  Fan violence can lead to poor treatment of legitimate fans/supporters.

  Fans are herded through streets to reach the stadium and transport home.

  All fans treated with suspicion and distrust.

  All fans banned from matches for a time period as a result of the negative actions of few individuals.
• Which of the following is a technological aid or innovation that can be used in sport to help to try to decrease performer violence in that sport?

  a) Use of closed circuit television (CCTV)

  b) Use of Hawkeye to review close line calls in tennis

  c) Use of a television match official (TMO) in Rugby League

  d) Use of extra match officials in Europa League Football

  (1)

  c) Use of a television match official (TMO) in Rugby League
• Outline strategies sporting authorities such as NGB's could use to encourage higher standards of individual performer behaviour. (4)

  Booking/sending off on field.

  Fine/ban off field.

  Club fine/points deducted.

  Code of conduct for players.

  Improve officiating via use of technology.

  Cite players after game for foul play.

  Fair play awards.

  Use of the law.
• Identify the possible solutions to violent behaviour among spectators in high level sports such as football. (4)

  Kick-off times imposed by the police.

  Control of alcohol sales; pubs banned from opening doors before kick off.

  Introduction of all-seater stadia.

  Tougher deterrents.

  Specific laws passed e.g. against trespass on pitch.

  Ban violent individuals from travelling.

  Increased security at events with crowd segregation for family areas.

  Use of CCTV to monitor spectator behaviour.

  More responsible media reporting prior to matches.
• While hooliganism has declined since the 1970s and 80s, clashes between rival fans at Euro 2016 in France illustrate the fact that it has not been completely eliminated. Discuss how football clubs, the community and the players themselves can work together to keep spectator violence at football matches down to a minimum. (15) *
• Causes of player violence

  W

  I

  N

  N

  E

  R

  W - win ethic and high rewards for sucess

  I - importance of event

  N - nature of sport

  N - NGB's too lenient with punishments

  E - excitement/over-arousal

  R - refereeing decisions poor, leading to frustration.
• Strategies for preventing violence in sport in relation to the performer

  Remove player from pitch/sub them.

  Punish aggressive behaviour e.g. fine or ban.

  Increase peer pressure e.g. on field of play via captain.

  Educate performer to use assertive behaviour.

  Provide positive role models to aspire to.

  Highlight responsibility to the team.

  Decrease emphasis on winning.

  Use SMT's.

  Work on improving fitness to decrease likelihood of fatigue negatively affecting mood.

  More officials, more accurate decisions.

  NGB's and law apply tougher sanctions.
• What actions can NGB's take to prevent performer violence?

  Support decisions of match officials when using TMO, clarify rules on violence, train officials to deal with situations.

  Punish violence missed by officials after the match.

  Further investigation using post-match evidence of performers citing referees.

  Promote performers with good disciplinary records as positive role models in their sport.

  Impose punishments for violent actions e.g. booking.

  Introduce education campaigns and rewards linked to fair play e.g. West Ham.
• Implications of violence in sport in relation to the performer

  Lower attendances.

  Declining participation.

  Decreased media coverage.

  Lower sponsorship/media revenue.

  Negative role models influence young performers.

  Increased pressure on NGB's to introduce strategies to eliminate aggressive behaviour.
• Causes of violence in sport in relation to spectators

  Emotional intensity of event e.g. derby.

  Alcohol consumption.

  Pre-match media hype.

  Poor crowd control.

  Lack of effective deterrents.

  Diminished responsibility by individuals in a large group, peer pressure.

  Reaction of the working class who perceive the middle class to be taking over their game.

  Poor officiating.

  Violence on pitch.

  Religious discord e.g. Celtic protestants Vs Rangers catholics.

  Reaction to chants and taunts.

  Display of masculinity among young males.
• Strategies for preventing violence in sport in relation to spectators

  Ban/control alcohol sales.

  Increase police intelligence.

  Impose tougher deterrents e.g. stadium bans.

  CCTC to identify and eject disorderly individuals.

  Removal of terraces, segregating fans, family zones.

  Encouraging responsible media reporting.

  Earlier kick off times imposed by police.

  Laws to prevent pitch invasions - trespassing.
• Negative of football hooliganism

  Image of football declined.

  Spectator attendance at matches fell.

  More stringent security measures imposed on all fans.

  Cost of security.

  Negative portrayal of English fans, damaging relations and less likely to host major tournaments.