The FA: Understanding England Football Away Fans

The FA, the governing body of association football in England, increased positive sentiment by launching a three-stage ethnographic observation study to prove that England’s away fan culture was largely misrepresented in the media.

Summary

The English football fan. Infamous across the world, and unable to shake a reputation of anti-social behaviour and controversy. But why does this reputation exist, and is it true?

In November 2019, Sparkler and The FA designed a uniquely ambitious three-stage research programme, which culminated in ethnographic observation, to develop a deep understanding of the realities of away fan culture and dispel any myths.

Whilst everyone felt they knew the England away fan from their regular portrayal in the media, our research found this to be misleading, inaccurate, and representative of only a small minority of this group.

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