Hooligans, Ultras, Activists: Polish Football Fandom in Sociological Perspective

Acknowledgements
Contents
Introduction
	Research on Football Fandom: Methodological Challenges
	References
1: History of Polish Fandom: Communism, Post-Transformation Violence and the Division of Functions
	Fandom in Communist Poland
	The ‘Decivilizing Spurts’ of the 1990s
	The Beginning of Functional Differentiation
	References
2: ‘You Have to Scream Your Head Off!’ Mechanical Solidarity and Rules of Gathering: Structural Dimensions of Fandom Culture
	Fan Figuration, Common Consciousness and the Ecstasy of ‘We’
	Functional Imperatives of Social Cohesion
	The Monopolization of Status
	‘Deals’, ‘Alliances’ and Old Enemies: The Roots and Structure Of Relations Between Fans
		Alliances and Deals
		Neutrality
		Sticker Knife
		Suspended Animosity
	References
3: Professional Fights, Pacts and Ways of Conduct: The Hermetic World of Polish Hooligans
	Fists or Weapons? Fighting Rules and the Discourse of Honour
	Hooliganism as a Sport
	Entrance into the Hooligan World and Its Consequences
	Criminal Activity and the ‘Dark Side’ of Hooligan Life
	References
4: Legal Restrictions and Recurrence of Fans’ Resistance Identity
	Legal Tools to Tackle the Hooligan Problem
	‘Civilized’ Manners and Peculiarity of the Stadium
	Blurred Notions and the Labelling of Deviants
	Resistance Identity of ‘Deviants’
	Patriotic Identity Politics as a Form of Resistance
	References
5: Fandom and Identity: From Individual Engagement to the Meaning of ‘We’
	The Club as a Symbolic Universe
	The Father, the Neighbourhood and Love of the Game: The Modes of Initiation
	‘Being a Fan’ in Respondents’ Narratives
	Commitment, Fanaticism and Lifestyle
	Community and a Sense of Belonging
	Female Fans in a Man’s World
	References
6: Ultras: The Performative Dimension of Fandom
	Evolution of the Ultras Movement in Poland
	Distinctive Features of Ultras Performances
	Technicalities of Performances
	From ‘Cursed Soldiers’ to Knights in Armour: Themes of Ultras Performances
		Performances Expressing Collective Identity
		Patriotic and Historical Performances
		Anti-communist Performances
		Performances on the Leftist Agenda and Current Politics
		Performances on Masculinity
		Extremist Performances
		Anti-modernization Performances
	Stealing the Flags and Symbolic Humiliation of Opponents
	References
7: Activism, Collective Action and Supporters’ Associations
	The Roots of Supporters’ Associations
	Supporters United: A Programme of Multisector Cooperation
	To the Rescue: Supporters and the Revival of Football Clubs
	References
Conclusions
	References
Index