Why Fans are Important in Football
The importance of fans in football and how they act as the 'twelfth man' on a team.
Football, along with many other sports, has a reliance on its supporters not just for revenue but for making football known as 'The Beautiful Game.' The cheers and jeers of fans provide the perfect atmosphere and environment for footballers to perform and showcase their talents in arenas all across the globe.
Some say sport, in general, is more commercialised and business-like. However, a sport like football has a lot of emotional sentiment and long-lasting traditions, which compared to a business is not the same as they are typified by efficiency, profit and productivity. These sentiments of football are what make the game come alive and popular across the world as Fifa has stated that "there are 5 billion football fans around the world, with Latin America, the Middle East and Africa representing the largest fan bases." This figure is staggering considering that the current world population is around 7.9 billion people. Over half the population is said to be football fans which shows how football can influence fans and how fans can influence football.
In football and most other sports that field 11 players per team, they refer to the home supporters as the 'twelfth man.' Most players after a tough win compliment the fans with usual quotes like "the fans were amazing" or "the fans pushed us over the finishing line." These quotes may seem robotic and media-trained but more often than not they always speak the truth. It shows the great influence a boisterous, partisan crowd can have during the climax of a tense match.
The home fans don't just influence their own team but they also provide intimidation and conjure up a fear factor for the opposition as well as the referees. An example is the dominant Manchester United side from the 90s to the early parts of the 21st century. Away teams were rarely given penalties at Old Trafford as the Red Devils were known as the best in the country allowing the Man Utd fans to create an overwhelming atmosphere for opposition teams as well as referees. It clearly highlights how fans can influence decisions as well as the flow of the game and suggests why the 'twelfth man' is a fitting name for the home supporters.
The atmosphere is usually referred to as something that occurs within the stadium walls, however, it can be agreed that atmosphere is created well before fans enter the stadiums. Whether it be on the way to a match or at pubs, the fan's voices will always be heard from all corners of the city on matchdays.
Supporters and fans not only influence their teams and players but they have a huge impact on football as a sport itself. An atmosphere in football does not mean chants and songs about players and teams, is a way for fans to voice out their feelings. The very recent European Super League scandal was a prime example of the extent to which football fans can influence the game. They not only create a welcoming atmosphere but also a hostile one for those who deserve it.
Chelsea fans stormed outside Stamford Bridge and created an atmosphere clearly displaying their displeasure at the ridiculous proposal set out by the top European clubs. The protests led to Chelsea's withdrawal from the suggested super league and forced Petr Cech who is a technical advisor at Chelsea to address the fans about the situation.
Another empowering moment was the famous breach of Old Trafford prior to a huge clash between Manchester United and Liverpool. This was in tandem with the Super League proposal as well as the ongoing dispute between United fans and the Glazer family who own Man Utd. The fans hostile atmosphere allowed them to storm their own ground and postpone the football match. This helped post their discontent for the Glazer family to see and finally address the issues at Manchester United. Although till this date the situation has hardly changed with fan led protests still occurring prior to matchdays.
It certainly isn't tangible but football fans certainly help unlock extra performances for their team to succeed on the pitch as well as to maintain the integrity of the sport. Football, like many other sports, relies on these sentimental values and traditions that fans hold and thus makes football known as 'The Beautiful Game.'
