In October 2021, Pakistan recorded its first win against India at a World Cup. But after the T20 World Cup match ended, disappointed Indian fans hurled abuse online at the team’s only Muslim player, Mohammed Shami. There were also reports of a rape threat against Virat Kohli’s nine-month-old daughter in the aftermath of the loss. Though the incidents set off some discourse on social media about violence in fandom, the news stories are not surprising. There have been numerous instances of violence and abuse by fans of all sports across all geographies over time. In India specifically, there have been various incidents of violence. One of the more recognisable events was the India-Australia match of 1969. Fans set the stands on fire, and hurled chairs and bottles onto the ground after the umpire gave a decision against the Indian team. A similar incident occurred in a match against West Indies in 2002. Indian fans got angry at West Indies’s batting performance, and lit fires at the stands, hurled bottles and ripped advertising billboards outside the stadium. Just a year later, fans hurled bombs and attacked a police vehicle over India’s loss at the World Cup. Some upset fans stormed MS Dhoni’s house after a World Cup loss in 2007. They chanted ‘Die, Dhoni, Die’ and burnt his effigy. However, what sets apart the two recent incidents of fan ‘violence’ that were cited at the outset, is that they took place in the virtual arena – that of social media. Violence by sports fans is not novel, and is not unique to India. A study in the UK says that hooliganism in sport goes back centuries in the country. The claim is supported by horrific incidents of fan violence, where people have lost their lives. For instance, the Heysel Stadium Disaster saw 39 people dead and 600 injured. The exact cause of the riot is disputed. The fans escaping the violence ran towards a concrete wall, crushing the people near it, leading to the collapse of the wall. A study has also linked domestic abuse to football matches. The abuse took place between partners regardless of whether their team won or lost. Violence by fans has been covered extensively by the media. Both media and scientific research look at fan violence ranging from a ‘‘notable social problem’’ to a ‘‘moral panic”. As a social problem, such incidents threaten the well-being of society. From a moral perspective, sensational treatment of such incidents by the media tends to amplify the problem of fan violence.
10 Apr 2022
Sophia Navagaonkar
