Ban on cell phones in the stadium: fans fight against influencer culture!

Ban on cell phones in the stadium: fans fight against influencer culture!

Conflict in German football stadiums is becoming more and more intense: a dispute is currently raging in the fans' circles over the use of smartphones and social media. The unwritten rule applies in many German stadiums: cell phones have no place there. The background is clear: Christian Exner from the fan projects coordination office explains that the fans should support the club for 90 minutes without having to stage themselves. Uploading videos and pictures to platforms like Instagram or TikTok is not only undesirable in fan blocks, but is downright frowned upon. This is done to protect the privacy of other fans and to make it more difficult to identify possible troublemakers, as Exner further emphasizes. However, many are bothered by the increasing presence of influencers in the stadium who market the football experience through their vlogs documenting the game.

A fight for identity and tradition

The roots of organized fan scenes in Germany run deep: they are a product of social changes, commercialization and the increasing distance between players and fans. Sociologists Gabriele Klein and Michael Meuser describe football as a place of social inclusion but also exclusion. The Ultras, often the most loyal supporters, have formed as a counter-movement against commercialization and for the preservation of traditions. Despite their strong sense of community and their commitment to fighting racism and sexism, many of these groups try to find a balance between tradition and today's social reality. Even if they often define themselves as “we” as opposed to “the others”, the pressure from outside and the challenges within their own group should not be underestimated, as the current discussion about cell phone use shows.

The identity of the fans is changing a lot. While some fight for an undisturbed support culture, others hit the keys and use social media as a platform for self-promotion. The tension between the desire for cohesion and individual forms of expression is a central topic that is being lively discussed in the fan curves in Germany. The influence of commercialization and the neoliberalization of sport contradicts the ideals of many ultras as they seek their place in a changing society. The disputes over cell phone use and the presence of influencers are therefore part of a larger fight to preserve fan culture and the importance of football as a social phenomenon.

How rbb24 reports, fans describe influencers as interlopers who dilute the traditional football experience. The current dynamics are questioning not only fan culture, but also the programs of football clubs and their relationships with supporters. Illuminate at the same time bpb.de the complex questions of identity that arise from professionalization and commercialization, and highlight the challenges that organized fan scenes face in maintaining their meaning and traditions.