Football Fan Groups and Police

Abstract

This article analyzes interactions among fan groups (locally called torcidas organizadas), police and other actors involved in the professional football in the city of Goiânia, capital of the state of Goiás (Brazil). In a context where violent incidents and deaths related to football have grown, the initial focus of this research was the perceptions of football fans and the military police of Goiás from a global perspective of the hooliganism problem. The study was based on systematic ethnography at stadiums and data collected from 300 questionnaires. Initial access to the Police Unit of Events was complemented by extensive contacts with supporters, as well as the observation of policing. Given the different forms of abuse indentified in an environment characterized by a denial of established actors about the prevailing violent atmosphere; this work asks what possible changes could be implemented? Accordingly, the paper ends with some notes for possible new approaches.