UTS’s Daryl Adair, together with colleagues at UniSA and the Univ of Bournemouth, has produced an investigation of spectator racism in three of Australia’s men’s football leagues – the AFL, the NRL, and A-League Men’s. The open access study, published by the International Review for the Sociology of Sport, involved a survey of respondents who self-identified as White, who were asked to consider whether they had observed racism among football crowds and, if so, their explanation for this behaviour. Here are some key questions and answers arising from the study.
(A) What were some key findings regarding the expression of racism by White spectators in professional men's football matches in Australia?
The study found that discriminatory racial dispositions remain prevalent among some White fans in professional men's football matches in Australia. Several White spectators reported witnessing racist behaviour, indicating the persistence of racist sensibilities within these sporting environments. The study also revealed that while some White participants demonstrated anti-racist sensibilities, they expressed frustration at the limited progress in addressing racism among sport spectators. There are punishments for offenders, but many go unreported.
(B) How did the study apply Pierre Bourdieu's sociological concept of habitus to understand the reasons behind overtly racist language and behaviour among White spectators?
The study applied Pierre Bourdieu's concept of habitus to theorise why some White spectators overtly express racist language and behaviour in professional men's football matches in Australia. By examining the cultural dispositions and social structures that shape individuals' attitudes and actions, the research aimed to understand the underlying reasons for the expression of racism among White fans. Thus, by analysing the socially ingrained racial dispositions learned by White fans within Australian culture, the study provided insights into the manifestation of racist language and behaviour in professional football settings.
(C) What were some of the challenges and frustrations expressed by White participants in relation to the limited progress in addressing racism in professional men's football codes in Australia?
White participants expressed frustration that, through most of Australian history, there was a lack of serious attention given to racist behaviour in sport. The study also revealed concerns about the ongoing normalisation of racism within society, with some participants pointing out that casual racism is often dismissed as harmless stereotypes, leading to a lack of meaningful action to combat it. Additionally, there was a perceived lack of effective measures to address racist behaviour, with participants noting that those expressing racist views often go unchallenged, further perpetuating the problem. There are whistleblowing initiatives in place today in the AFL, NRL, and A-League Men’s, but many fans are unaware of how to report racism while at a sports venue.
Read the full journal article in the International Review for the Sociology of Sport
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