Social Identity In Football

The research on the identity, nation and immigration in football set us to consider different conceptualisations of community: community as a geographical/urban locale, community as a social system, community as a sense of identity/belonging, and community as an ideology. The key point to draw from the ‘community’ debate around football has largely been started from the assumption that football clubs emerged to satisfy a functional need for social bonding whether these forms of bonding were approximate to ‘traditional’, geographical or emotional ties. At the same time the blur notion of ‘community’ is associated with connecting identities which is strongly expressed through football, especially in the case of Cape-Verdean team. Community being

It was seen that Red Star football club had developed its roots in ‘community’ or more of the ‘community organization’ based on the working class formation. The development of this club along these lines has meant the emergence of relationship between football club in relation to the social identity-building properties of football players and spectators. Red Star as a site for the expression of common identity for much of the game’s history embodying many of the collective symbols, identifications and processes of connectivity which could be associated with the notion of ‘community’ in different senses. Around Bauer Stadium one could see small signs showing the roots of club making. Stickers on the toilet doors: ‘love football - hate fascism’ indicate left-wing, anti-fascist and family friendly formation. Furthermore, near the exit from the stadium one could notice the poster of former player Rino Della Negra who was shot by the Nazis for his role in the “Manouchian Group”.

‘Red Star is the…one of the oldest clubs in France. And let…alone…like…it is the oldest club in Paris. And in France. Even.’

‘I heard about the club for its historical reputation….they mainly hear because Red Star is a historical

It is like we wanna make extra noise’

Red Star, being more of the professional formation, and thus, more competitive is not associated with this notion of belonging in that strong emotional sense.

‘Unfortunately, in football you don 't have many friends because they are all competitive, ‘cause it’s…football is quite a competitive sport not only against your…against your opponents but also within the team as well, because there is a lot of competition to win a spot on the team every weekend’

Crucially, understanding who ‘football communities’ might be and analyse how these groups of people can be said to constitute distinct and observable community formations. Football clubs are historically one of the principal agents through which collective social identities are created and reinforced. Football club could be a site of representation where people are taught norms of behaviour and discipline as well as show the ideals of spirit and behaviour for the communities they