engleski

Youth, Stigma and Non-elite football: notes from the field

This paper is based on two ethnographic research we did within large international EU research projects. Between October 2016 and January 2018, we carried out ethnographic research with the White Stones ultras group from Varaždin and other supporters of Varteks FC, which resulted in 53 field diary entries (including 21 home and away matches) and 25 interviews with core members of the White Stones and other people involved in management of Varteks FC. Varteks is football club founded and owned by football supporters in 2011. Our research was part of big international (Horizon 2020) scientific project PROMISE (PROMoting youth Involvement and Social Engagement). We also conducted long ethnographic research with the core members of Torcida, supporters of Hajduk FC, as a part of big EU FP7 project MYPLACE (Memory, Youth, Political Legacy And Civic Engagement). Our research was done from July 2012 to August 2016, including 292 field diary entries and 23 in-depth interviews with members of Torcida’s hard-core. While Varteks FC presents Croatian example of well known process of founding football clubs by supporters themselves, like FCUM, Austria Salzburg, FC Falke Hamburg etc., Hajduk is one of the biggest Croatian football clubs, founded in 1911. The link between two clubs is democratic principle of voting for the management and 'socios' model, in this case also linked in the common struggle against corruption in Croatian Football Federation. Although Torcida is much bigger group than the White Stones, both social actors belong to ultras subculture. Young people, especially members of youth subcultures, are frequently stereotyped and stigmatized in the public sphere. In our case, supporters are portrayed as hooligans, people with no interest in sport but in trouble making and so on. Our research showed, contrary to stereotypes in the public sphere, that most of young people involved in activities around Varteks FC and Torcida play football actively and value the game of football from grass-roots perspective. Varteks FC is on the border between amateuristic and semi-professional football, Hajduk plays in Croatian first league, but large number of Torcida mambers play in recreational and lower leagues. Torcida also(since 1995) organize 'Torcida Cup', annual futsal tournament and such amateuristic and 'DiY' event has greater attendance than most of Croatian first league matches!

youth, ultras, stigma, football, activism, ethnography

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