How do sports fans end up as aggressive defenders of a nation state’s regime? | Sean Ingle
The Manchester City case is one example of how fandom has warped beyond previous boundaries in online spacesA video of Liam Gallagher playing in a 1996 charity football match resurfaced on social media recently. Dressed in Manchester City blue and a bucket hat, in truth he appears to be in a fug of cigarettes and alcohol. But then, out of nowhere, he hits a shot into the top corner. Since last week, though, the Oasis singer has preferred to defend the honour of his club with his studs up.As the fallout from the biggest scandal in British football history headed into a second week, Gallagher was asked what he made of rival fans wanting City to lose all their trophies after being found guilty of all the serious charges against them. “There all NEUROTIC little GIMPS,” came the reply on social media. It was one of dozens of sweary, punchy, and often amusing responses, all built on a solitary article of faith: that City will somehow find a way to wriggle free. Continue reading...
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