Types of Deviant Behavior among Football Fans in Malaysia

Abstract

Many research has been carry out about football hooliganism or deviant behaviour among football fans especially in western country. The issue has been discussed since 1980s but until now, there is still existing of misbehaviour (deviant) among football fans around the world. But in Malaysia, there are no research has been done to explain about deviant behaviour among football fans. Football fans in Malaysia also facing misbehaviour such as deviant while watching live at the stadium, the numbers of incidents of deviant behaviour among football fans increase day by day. Therefore, this research has been carrying out to have an academic explanation why the fans behave like that and what type of deviant behaviour normally occur. Numbers of 600 football fans from state of Kelantan, Perak, Selangor and Johor were chosen to be respondents. Respondents around age 18-50 years old were involved within this study. The data showed that the respondents involved with verbal and physical behaviour while watching football at the stadium. A total of 77.8% of respondents said they were talking bad about the opponent team and their fans (trying to provoke the opponent fans). Throwing the objects such as rocks, firecrackers, flares and bottles always happens at the stadium. The throwing incidents happen usually because of dissatisfaction toward referee decisions. Besides that, the respondents also involved with fighting against opponents fans (36.7 %). All the behaviours either verbal’s or physicals were not happen if these fans have a spirit of sportsmanship and learn to be a professional fans.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n1s1p59