The Paradox of Football Supporters' Communication

• Author: Plesca, C.E
• Position: Doctoral School of Sociology, University of Bucharest
• Pages: 307-314

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 6 (55) No. 2 - 2013

THE PARADOX OF FOOTBALL

SUPPORTERS’

COMMUNICATION

Elena-Catinca PLEŞCA1

Abstract: The generalizing tendency is to associate supporter language

with a minimal one, using few words, even very little gesture, so that verbal

language as well as non verbal end up being disregard by those non involved

in the area or who don’t look beyond appearances. Paradoxically, team

supporters communicate a lot among them as well as with other galleries and

even with the mass media, executive football forums, players etc. Banners,

panels, choreography, which are meticulously prepared, send a clear

message but are also the living proof of the fact that these individuals are

creative and have a high communication capacity. Supporter communication

is not limited to stadium manifestations; it is also the indicative result of

every message sent through and by supporters’ actions.

Key words: supporter, communication, identities, actions.

1 Doctoral School of Sociology, University of Bucharest.

1. Introduction

One can consider that sport is a promoter

of national identities as it offers the arena

where national symbols such as flags and

hymns are worshipped. Sport is the new

humanity religion. If the European/

Romanian society is built on and through

Christianity, the new society can be built

through sport, in other words, sport will be

a possible vehicle leading towards a new

European identity. [21]

Supporters’ actions, be they colored or

invisible, are of great diversity, manifested

almost permanently, and deployment plans

can be found both within the stadium and

outside it. Colorful Colored manifestations

are those visible and known actions, and

the invisible ones (bets, game organizing

and preparation, collecting certain objects

specific to the favourite club) are the actual

manifestations of supporters, which, most

of the time, remain in anonymity for the

wide public.

2. The Paradox of Football Supporters’

Communication

Fans, kings and fetishism – three terms

apparently not connected that appear to

come from different ages, have in fact a

common denominator, which is sport,

offering them rationality. For the present

case, the notion of fan represents a

globalizing concept for types of watchers

and/ or spectators of a sportsman, coaches,

football team etc and kings have a double

functionality: on the one side they

represent the beginnings of clothes

fetishism (crimson- clothes made of dark