Women’s football as a safe space: How certain fan culture is damaging the game | OneFootball

Women’s football has always been sold as a more welcoming and inclusive space. It’s marketed as a ‘game for all’ and promotes a sense of community that sets it apart from the often more hostile, commercial men’s game.

But this openness has created its own problems. The lack of clear boundaries between players and fans has led to a sense of entitlement and disrespect towards the players — and among the supporters too.

The myth of a safer space in women’s football

There’s a common belief that women’s football is inherently safer and more inclusive. This is often used to downplay incidents of abuse, but players still face racism, transphobia, and personal attacks for ‘not being humble enough.’ A 2021 survey by The FA found that 21 percent of female players reported verbal abuse from fans, and eight percent had experienced racial abuse during matches. When these issues come up, people often say things like ‘we aren’t the men’s game’ or ‘there are fewer arrests in women’s football.’

But those claims miss some key facts. Women are statistically less likely to be arrested for violent crimes. That’s not because they’re less capable of harm, but because of wider societal patterns. According to the Statistics on Women and the Criminal Justice System 2023, women account for 16 percent of all arrests, a figure that has stayed fairly consistent over the years. So, fewer arrests in women’s football might have more to do with societal trends than the sport being inherently safer.

Historically, women — particularly white women — have also played a role in creating exclusionary environments, even if men are usually the ones to escalate things into physical aggression.

In 2022, Beth Mead said in an interview with The Guardian that England’s glaring lack of diversity was ‘completely coincidental’ and ‘more of an outsider’s perspective.’ These comments show how white women can create exclusive environments with words alone, even subconsciously.

Fan entitlement in women’s football

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Fan entitlement in women’s football has been on the rise, driven by a few key factors, such as the affordability of the game and parasocial relationships with players.

Women’s football is still more accessible in terms of ticket prices compared to the men’s game. This makes it easier for more people to attend matches. But because of the number of games fans can afford to go to, the size of the stadiums, and players actually interacting with fans after the games, it can increase the number of fans who develop one-sided emotional connections with players. This is something the women’s game has also used in its marketing to boost engagement, which can intensify the problem.

At the stadium, it’s understandable that emotions can run high, but there have been more incidents of fans abusing players. Vivianne Miedema recently said that she feels the inclusive nature of women’s football is ‘starting to slip away,’ and warned that if action isn’t taken soon, it might be too late.

Read more: Navigating stereotypes and embracing evolution: The landscape of women’s football in Africa

Parasocial relationships also change the way fans view the sport. Instead of supporting the team as a whole, fans start to support individual players. This can often lead to an ‘us vs. them’ mentality. Not between rival teams, but between a favoured player and the team they represent. If one of a fan’s favourite players has a bad game, instead of the fans just accepting that, they might blame others, or even direct abuse towards other members of the team to deflect.

On top of this, when any criticism of women’s football is dismissed as ‘anti-feminist’ or ‘misogynistic,’ it shuts down valid discussion. This creates a toxic fan culture where people feel more entitled to dictate how players behave and how the culture of football should act. Of course, not every fan behaves this way, but it’s enough of an issue that it needs to be addressed.

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Social media and the normalisation of abuse

Social media has only made things worse. Fans often compare women’s football to the men’s game, sometimes believing they’re better supporters because they feel a closer connection to the players. This feeling of being ‘better’ or ‘more loyal’ often translates into a sense of entitlement, with fans demanding players’ attention or invading their personal lives.

The issue is compounded by the idea that if players put their lives online, they should be ‘ready for feedback.’ But not everyone is entitled to give feedback. Just because someone shares something online, it doesn’t mean they’re open to unsolicited criticism. If players want feedback, they can ask for it from those they trust or from qualified experts.

In response, many players have taken action to protect themselves by closing or limiting their comments on social posts, or even hiring a team to manage their accounts. Players are still happy to engage with fans, but they need to control how and when they do so.

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The need for boundaries within fan culture

The growth of women’s football is a credit to the hard work of players, clubs and fans. But as the sport grows, it’s crucial to think about certain fan culture and behaviour. True supporters respect players’ privacy, acknowledge the risks of abuse, and don’t contribute to creating a toxic atmosphere of entitlement.

If women’s football really wants to be a ‘space for all,’ it’s going to need clearer boundaries. Respecting players, redefining fan culture, and addressing entitlement are essential to keeping the inclusivity and community spirit that make the game so special.

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