Homophobia in football and group identity: an analysis of Northwest England football club fans

Some recent literature suggests that homophobia may be declining within men's football in the UK. This may be due to increased internationalisation and internet use, together with the impact of feminism and LGBTQ+ prominence in the wider society. However, in contrast, the continued presence of homophobic language in some football-related settings suggests the persistence of indirect biases. This study aimed to develop an understanding of the circumstances in which homophobia might persist in modern UK football and add to the current body of research surrounding in-group bias and team identification. 105 participants who identified as supporters of Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City or another Northwest England football club, took part in a study measuring self-reported attitudes in a mixed factorial design. Participants demonstrated more negative attitudes towards homosexuality when asked about football-based than general life-based scenarios. Individuals also displayed more negative views towards perceived gay members of rival clubs than members of their own club, displaying in-group bias. Participants were significantly more likely to display negative attitudes by participating in homophobic chants inside football grounds, than sending homophobic messages via X/Twitter, suggesting that sports-based homophobic biases may be particularly prevalent in contexts of rivalry and anonymity.