In Part 1 of this chapter, I talked about why fans bully players. In Part 2 I talked about the result of such bullying and depression. Part 3 was about how those actions are wrong from the root.

In this final part, I will talk about the immune hypocrisy of football fans.

In recent years we have been seeing more and more bullying on the pitch, on social media, and in sports studios. Players are mocked for their looks, and sexual preference, and even have their families abused and insulted as well. It has become so normal that the more you do it, the more you can call yourself a fan.

I know the counterargument, "those are extreme cases" and I agree. Stealing 3 dollars isn't the same as committing murder. There are limits, but who says that those limits haven't been crossed over and over without appropriate reactions?

And yes, it does happen everywhere, but, why is that an invitation to normalize it instead of fighting against it? The arguments always seem to favor the abusive side in these scenarios.

The people spewing this abuse depend on two things

• They are many, therefore, they have fake courage that wouldn't exist face to face with the player.

• That the players they are abusing anywhere wouldn't respond to them or know of their existence.

The Hypocrisy Of Football Fans

Their number is the reason why those people can't be rational. Those fans are the enemies of themselves. How's booing your own players supposed to bring in good results? The argument to normalize these actions under the umbrella of "People's sport" was merely organizations kissing the asses of abusers because they pay for their tickets and subscriptions fees.

That's why we will never be actual analysts at studios because people want Roy Keane and other ex-players to abuse and insult the shit out of De Gea, Maguire, Xhaka, Lukaku, Lloris, and any other players because it's okay as they're not humans, they can't feel pain because they're rich. All silly arguments as we approach a point of 1 out 4 players are seriously considering self-harm.

We Are As Good As The Worst Of Us

That's why these actions matter. It doesn't matter if 99% of fans are supportive, which isn't the case at all if 1% spewing the N-words and making monkey gestures at Sterling is found acceptable. If we look with an unbiased eye, there's no way we'd give those fans the benefits of the doubt.

We should always be open to criticism of fans' behavior.

How do Arsenal fans find it okay to get Sol Campbell from Spurs but if Van Persie goes to Manchester United then he is booed and they share videos of them burning his shirt? This goes to all teams.

Club fans expect and demand their players to be loyal while expecting players from other clubs silly if they choose to stay in their current clubs.

They complain about players' morals and how they're playing "for the badge" even though that's the result of their actions as they turn players into either Gods they worship or slaves they get to abuse. Fans created the current reality and were the first to complain about it.

"Stop Ruining Football"

Those are the cries you hear when pointing out the obvious. Calling out bad behaviors in fans is ruining what supporting a club is like. Those words are uttered by those who put so much effort into coming out with strong, creative, demeaning language to describe players just so they could look like true, amazing, badass, awesome, football fans who know what "true football" is.

This Is A Tantrum

It's not supporting, you're dehumanizing a human being by throwing a child's tantrum. Saying that a player should go on the pitch, endure all the abuse, get insulted, gets his family insulted, mocked, and ridiculed while playing well is not an opinion. It's not a point of view, it's simply ignorance.

And there's no bravery in cursing and demeaning players while being part of a crowd, that's just being a sheep. And if that same crowd started insulting a player you like, you'd then have a problem with them. That's the definition of hypocrisy, it's okay to abuse everyone except the player you like.

Crowds' Toxic Relationship With Players

That's how it can simply be summed up, the relationship between crowds and players has become a sadistic one. It may sound too far but that's what it is in a literal sense.

I pay money for tickets and subscriptions just so I could insult, demean, and abuse you with my money. If it wasn't, then why not just stop paying the money? I think we all could easily agree that not showing up to a stadium will send a clearer message, same with paying subscriptions or following social media accounts.

It's okay to express an opinion to get a certain player outside the club for a while. But, this idea of continuing to show up and pay just to abuse that player isn't acceptable. What I find acceptable is those players, managers, and club administrations telling those people to take their money and fuck off!

In Conclusion

It's okay to get angry at certain players or express displeasure. But, also, let's call things what they are. Let's not call dehumanization, bullying, abuse, racism, and bigotry "Club support". Let's tantrums what they are; tantrums.

Don't act high and mighty, it's not support to abuse someone, don't hide behind silly excuses. There's no "tax to being famous and rich", there are people abusing people because they are rich and famous. Having those silly one-sentence arguments to justify abuse is childish.

I hope I got my point across without upsetting anyone, even though some people deserve to be upset. Players' abuse has really hit a clinical point.