British Football Fan Folklore:
A Look Into the Spirit of the Game

This website covers the folk group of fans within the European football community and the loyalty and behavior that is expressed. Traditions and rituals are a large part of this community and this website examines the superstitious beliefs of football fans. This is through certain items being seen as bad or good luck for their team and the overall, passion for their team such as lucky clothes, and items, and even the act of ignoring stereotypical signs of bad luck. Within the fan’s loyalty, there is ingroup bias and a perception that they are better despite statistics, especially against rival opponents. Collective behaviors of European football fans could also be seen as hooliganism as the intensity of their loyalty causes violence or disturbance to the community in some instances.