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Abstract. The term football (soccer) hooliganism is an umbrella term for describing various types of violations of public order. These occur not only during football matches, but also before and after matches, and while traveling to and from games. The most common forms of negative behavior of soccer fans include: collective fights between rival groups, throwing dangerous objects onto the pitch, attacking police forces and damage to trains, city buses and trams. The article discusses the facts and myths concerning the football (soccer) hooligan subculture in Poland and presents football hooligans - mostly young males - as a socially excluded group. The author bases his reflections on over 20 years observation of football hooligan groups in Poland and an analysis of press reports concerning Polish football hooliganism. In contrast to the prevailing view in the literature, the author points to numerous psychological benefits which result from the stigmatization and exclusion process. Marginalization does not necessarily involve a decrease in the quality of life as perceived subjectively by the individual or the group. The individual may be shielded from the perceived sense of the low quality of life that accompanies social exclusion. This occurs as a result of the creation of group bonds, following a comprehensive set of rules of conduct and adherence to the same values. The author emphasizes that it is important to understand the perception of "football reality" from the hooligans' perspective and not solely from that of wider society.
DOI: 10.5604/20805268.1157160
http://dx.doi.org/10.5604/20805268.1157160
Keywords: football hooliganism, subcultures, prevention of hooliganism, football-related violence, police procedures
Introduction
The phenomenon of hooliganism at football (soccer) stadiums in Poland was recognized for the first time as a social problem in the mid 1970s. The early 1980s brought an increase in both the number of football subculture groups and in their capacities. The first mass incidents of spectator disorder at a stadium were recorded. The first hooligan group coalitions, and defence alliances were made. The subculture turned into a ''hooligan league''1. The rivalry between football teams started to be accompanied by the rivalry of fan groups. The most active groups which participated in numerous disturbances were held in the highest esteem.
The behaviour of Polish football fans was clearly marked by patterns taken from Western Europe. The...