After years of research on the sports violence/media nexus, an impressive body of material has been amassed on coverage styles, but the question of ‘media effects’ remains prickly, and how audiences behavior and are impacted by mediated sports violence remains uncertain. Finally, other forms of violence related to sport include the involvement of sports personnel, as victims or offenders, in practices such as stalking, harassment, threat and abuse.
Discussion
Theories of Violence in Sport
There are various theories that explain the relationship between sports and violence, but a few of them are discussed here, which are considered to be the most fundamental concepts in this area of study. As suggested by Coakley et al. (2001, pp. 307–327), sports have become arenas where violence is legitimated and rewarded, which has allowed the occurrence of such violence in an increased quantity, in public or personal settings (Coakley et al. 2001, pp. 307–327). Further, violence in sports have been seen as glorified and supported in various ways such as excessive roughness or intimidation during a game that can increase the chance of winning of a team, which reinforces the strategic value of violence (Bloom et al. 1996, pp. 65–78).
(Goldstein, 1999, pp. 81–88).
Violence during Sporting Events
There are four types of violence in sports that are discussed below:
- The first type is the least extreme level of violent activity that is blunt body contact, which involves a legal contact between the game such as American football or punching in boxing.
- The next level is borderline violence in which the contact can breach the rules of the game; however, it is still widely accepted and not penalized such as side-line scuffles or throwing elbows during basketball or soccer.
- Another major violence in sports is that of Quasi-violence that involves aggression, which breaks down the rules of the game, and codes of conduct. It has often seen as resulting in serious injuries such as a vicious hit or sideline attach with a hickey stick.
- Lastly, llegal activities are considered to be the severe violence in sports that may occur during or after the event such as post-game attacks on rival players or coaches, which results in severe injuries or death.
Violence through Sports Media
Despite of the fact that the importance of sports media in spreading awareness among the public and the players are increasing rapidly, it has become a major cause of psychological mobilization for violence in sports, whether before or after the game, through the biases of a sports team for the other, or by unjustified criticism while focusing on the importance and seriousness of some of the other players.
Violence through Psychological Factors
The psychological factors play a crucial role in the violence in sports through difference in behaviour of individual fans and players, which consist of mixed psychological or some negative aspects of those personal attributes that describe its owner extremism.
Violence through Sports Administrative Organization
The authorities and members of sports are considered to be an essential means of self-realization. Also, they have the authority to identify legal and illegal practices of players in order to achieve victories and earn a base sport. However, if they lack the ability to manage a game improperly, it may result in conflicts or violence that needs to be managed effectively.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Violence in sport is clearly a multidimensional and complex topic that has generated a huge volume of research and writing. The portion of it reviewed here underlines the importance of approaching the topic in three ways. The first is sociological, because far from existing in vacuum, violent aspects of sport grow out of and exist relationally with other parts of the social process witness the character of violence both on and off the field. Next is culturally and cross-culturally, because often heterogeneous manifestations and meanings of sports violence are forged in the workshops of distinct cultures witness the manner in which spectators from European countries differentially articulate their allegiance to the game of soccer. Finally, historically, because these manifestations and meanings are often far more grounded than new, and often as fluid as they are fixed witness the developments and shifts in football hooliganism across the last century highlighted by the figuration branch of the Leicester School.
One factor is for certain; however, history has shown that the masses enjoy sport spectacles.
Some measures that can prevent such actions are listed below:
- Enough security personnel for inspection for spectators.
- Allowance of journalism provocative statements by players before the event should be controlled.
- Considerations of the law are mainly penalties for people to help conduct criminal acts and violence in the vicinity of sports entertainment.
- Daytime shows are preferable for security since such games can be controlled much easier due to the lack of light during the night that is conducive to social disturbance, alcohol or drugs. It requires a good lighting of the stadium, as well as its surroundings, to avoid such violent actions.
- Complete neutrality towards the defeated team.
- Selection of commentators who have demonstrated a spirit of responsibility and non-biasness.
- Seminars and special lectures dealing with the importance of developing the spirit of sport fans.
References
Bloom, G. A. & Smith, M. D. (1996), Hockey violence: A test of the cultural spillover theory, Sociology of Sport Journal vol. 13, pp. 65–78
Coakley, J. & Hughes, R. (2001), Positive deviance among athletes: the implications of over conformity to the sport ethic, Sociology of Sport Journal vol. 8, pp. 307–327
Delaney, T. (2001), Community, Sport and Leisure, 2d ed. Auburn, NY: Legend Books, pp. 55-69
Dunning, E. (2000). Toward a sociological understanding of football hooliganism as a world phenomenon, European Journal of Criminal Policy and Research vol. 8, pp. 141–162
Goldstein, J.H. (1999). Sports violence, In D.S. Eitzen (ed.), Sport in Contemporary Society: an Anthology. New York: St Martin's Press. pp. 81–88
Guttmann, A. (2001). Sports spectators from antiquity to renaissance, Journal of Sport History vol. 8, pp. 5–27