'Only Genuine Fans Need Apply': An Organisational Analysis of the English Football Association's Response to Football Supporter Stereotypes

Hughson, J.; Poulton, E.

Abstract

This paper presents an organisational study of the Football Association in England with particular reference to its establishment of an officially sanctioned supporters group for the national team, largely in response to the media reportage on, and the political reaction to, crowd behaviour. Institutional theory is advanced as a means of explaining the FA’s relationship with the media and the Home Office and its resultant organisational response to the administering of England fans. It is argued that the FA, in its organisational operation, unwittingly lends support to the marginalisation of a section of society – the rough white working class – in which the ‘hooligan’ element is believed to reside.

Citation

Hughson, J., & Poulton, E. (2007). 'Only Genuine Fans Need Apply': An Organisational Analysis of the English Football Association's Response to Football Supporter Stereotypes. International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2(1/2), 69-82. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijsmm.2007.011391

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Nov 30, 2006
• Publication Date: 2007
• Journal: International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing
• Print ISSN: 1475-8962
• Electronic ISSN: 1740-2808
• Publisher: Inderscience
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1/2
• Pages: 69-82
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/ijsmm.2007.011391
• Keywords: Football Association; institutional theory; Home Office (UK); media stereotyping; ‘cultural fabric’.
• Related Public URLs: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSMM.2007.011391