An examination of football fans attitudes towards fair play and their levels of team identification

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between football fans' attitudes towards fair play and their identification levels with their teams. The relational survey model was used in the study. The research group of the study consists of football fans who support different clubs (n=506). The Fan Fair Play Scale and the Sports Fan Identification Scale were used as data collection tools. In addition to descriptive statistics, independent groups t-test, ANOVA and correlation analysis were performed in line with the hypotheses of the study. The research findings showed that football fans generally developed a positive attitude towards fair play. However, it was determined that fans who identified with their teams at a high level could exhibit behaviors contrary to fair play principles due to their emotional attachment. In addition, it was determined that positive attitudes towards fair play increased as age and education level increased, while male fans were less committed to fair play principles than female fans. It is thought that the findings of the study will contribute to the relevant literature and in this direction, it is recommended that training programs be developed to increase ethical values and fair play awareness among football fans.