EXTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS AND SYMBOLISM OF FOOTBALL SUPPORTER GROUPS AS ELEMENTS OF SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46793/ManagSport17-2.158SKeywords:
subcultures, external characteristics, risk management, criminalistics, policing, Bad Blue Boys, violence preventionAbstract
Football supporter groups constitute complex subcultural communities whose identity is shaped through symbols, rituals, and a shared system of internal values. From the perspectives of criminology and criminalistics, these elements are of particular significance as they facilitate an understanding of the mechanisms of group cohesion, hierarchical structures, and the potential propensity for deviant forms of behaviour. This paper focuses on the analysis of the external characteristics of football supporter subculture, with particular emphasis on the Bad Blue Boys supporter group from Zagreb as a representative example of an urban football supporter community in Southeast Europe. Special attention is devoted to the interpretation of tattoos, colours, slogans, and other symbols that function as visual codes of identity, status, and group affiliation. Drawing upon the relevant literature and police practice, the paper highlights the importance of enhancing professional competencies for engaging with diverse communities within the framework of policing. Understanding and interpreting the symbolism of football supporter groups is of fundamental importance, as it enables the identification of potential security risks, the differentiation between identity-based expressions and extremist manifestations, and the development of more effective preventive and reactive policing strategies. The paper concludes that, when properly understood and interpreted, visual symbolism may serve as a valuable analytical tool in criminalistic assessment, thereby contributing to the advancement of contemporary policing models in relation to sporting events and other public gatherings.
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