The fan protest stories featured in this article highlight the utility of fans’ articulation and mobilisation of their discontent. These protests illustrate how contemporary participatory fan culture has evolved to support a diverse range of activism in football, with an emphasis on influencing the governance of clubs and broader social structures and institutions. This evolution has been facilitated by the rise of influential fan media and the associated activism facilitated by networked supporters. This is especially evident among the supporters of Liverpool and Everton, where a tradition of activism has been developed in response to the challenges facing their clubs.
The recent ‘Ticket Pricing’ protest by the Holmesdale Fanatics in the UK was an example of how powerful fan discontent can be. This was a highly organised protest, involving a large number of fans and utilising the power of social media. The resulting dialogue with the board led to concessions and a more streamlined structure for ticket pricing going forward.
During the Civil Rights Movement, Black fans turned their love of sports into a tool of nonviolent protest. They boycotted pro teams with segregated seating and pressed city leaders to integrate schools, housing and public services. Black newspapers like the Atlanta Daily World carried columns by sportswriters Jim Hall, Marcel Hopson and Marion Jackson, encouraging fans to use their passion for sport as a force for change.
Often news media coverage of protests portrayed underrepresented groups negatively. This article suggests ways to avoid that trap, including framing stories around the “5 W’s,” focusing on the people involved, and talking to them. It also explores the implementation of Activism of Care, an activist strategy that uses communication and posting formats (such as shout outs, prompts and asks) that are part of a community’s culture to promote destigmatization of mental illness and celebrate neurodivergent participants.