ISSN: 2147-5652 Turkish Journal of Sport and Exercise http://selcukbesyod.selcuk.edu.tr/sumbtd/index Year: 2014 - Volume: 16 - Issue: 2 - Pages: 41-49 DOI: 10.15314/TJSE.201428104 Effects of the socio-economic-cultural structure of football spectators on the tendency towards violence (Manisaspor case) Kadir KOYUNCUOGLU 1 , Zekeriya GOKTAS 2 , Erdal DEMIR 1 1 School of Physical Education and Sport, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey. 2 School of Physical Education and Sport, Balıkesir, Turkey. Address correspondence to E. Demir, e-mail: erdaldemir23@hotmail.com Abstract This study aims to search socio-economic-cultural reasons which are thought to be effective in the violence and aggression of audience of Manisaspor football team. For this purpose, it offers suggestions to identify violence and aggressions problems in football fields and find solutions to them. The study group is formed by 500 Manisaspor football fans who watched seven teams’ games that competed in the 2011-2012 Spor Toto Super Lig season and who are chosen randomly. As the data collection tool, along with the audience's demographic information, a questionnaire oriented to determine the level of effectiveness of different reference groups on audience aggression was administered. Consistency coefficient in the questionnaire (Cronbach Alpha) was found 0.80 and was seen that it was in high reliability category. The frequency distribution and Chi-square analyses for findings were performed in statistic software. In the results; in the 41 and over age category of Manisaspor football fans, it is seen that their education level was high and they mostly knew the football rules. It is seen that they mostly watch Manisaspor's in-games, they are found to be quiet and compatible although they are largely affected by defeats of the team. Causes of violent tendencies of Manisaspor fans before the game are found as events of the past games and media publications, causes of violent during the game are found as referees' wrong attitudes and behaviors and opponent audience’s negative behaviors. In addition to this result, it is also found that mass communication affect aggression and violence. Keywords: Football, football audience, aggression and violence in football. INTRODUCTION Sports have become an institution located in the centre of our society and much valued today and a sports branch football has a very different trend. Football with the modernization process has acquired a basic satisfaction source status which people commit religiously or semi-religiously, while it moved from being a certain sub-culture's game it has become a popular entertainment which trail masses (15). Researches on sport sociology and psychology show that sport is a reflection of social structure. Aggression of audience in the fields depending on "Supporting a team and being fan of a team" should be also addressed within this structure (9). The opinion that every day fans become a little more frugal against their teams, reluctant to see the truths, disrespectful and cruel against opposing team's athletes and audience, aggressive towards the referee is clearly observed by athletes, spectators and sport community (5). In recent years, the violence events in sport competitions especially in football matches have negative effects on sports' properties such as; universal values such as love, peace and brotherhood, unifying and integrative properties. One of the most important effects of violence in sport is sport's not being internalized enough. Fans' confusing excitement with tension, preferring outcome instead of performance goals lead to violence. In public opinion where people only conditioning victory and sportsmanship and moral values are unfortunately corrupted, explanandum reveals oneself as a form of aggression and violence (12). Partisanship of football teams is said to occur because of psychological and social reasons. Individuals have various requirements and they convert them into behaviors by their impulses and