Whether they helped bring down Jose Mourinho or protested ticket prices, fans have a long history of using their passion for football to fight for change. But what makes a good protest? Whether it’s an occupation, a march or simply boycotting a game, the best protests are rooted in a real issue.
Moreover, successful protests involve a large number of people. A study of 323 revolutionary campaigns found that those that comprised at least 3.5% of the population at their peak were the most effective, a principle known as the “3.5% rule.” This reflects the idea that larger movements have more political leverage and are harder to ignore.
In the Civil Rights Movement, Black fans became an important arm of the movement by turning their love of sports into a weapon against segregation in professional sports stadiums. They were able to maintain their protests through local media—Black newspapers that published boycott information and placards, and pickets around local stadiums.
However, there are many barriers to participation that make it difficult for some people to engage in protest. The main ones include time and energy commitments, child care obligations and the need to work. As a result, it is important for organizers to try to create spaces that are aware of these limitations and to offer alternative ways to participate in the movement. For example, the 2018 anti-gun violence protests in the USA involved students walking out of school instead of going to a rally.