When Loyalty Is Questioned: : How Identity Threat Shapes Belongingness and Proof of Authenticity Among Foreign Football Fanatics.

Sammanfattning

Background: While football has evolved into a global business, the heavy commercialization of the sport has given rise to the “plastic fans” phenomenon that are supporters perceived as having low commitment and being motivated by trends or success. This phenomenon creates an identity threat for loyal foreign supporters, as their geographical distance leads local fans to stereotype them as belonging to this “plastic fans” category. Identity Fusion Theory (IFT) provides a critical lens to understand these extreme group dynamics and the visceral sense of oneness fans feel toward their club. Purpose: Existing literature on IFT primarily focuses on the how fused individuals respond to external out-group threats, leaving a gap in understanding intragroup dynamics between local and extended members. This study aims to fill that gap by exploring how perceived identity threats affect the in-group belongingness status of foreign football fanatics and the specific behaviours they employ to prove their belongingness. Method: To address these exploratory objectives, the researchers adopted a qualitative research design rooted in an interpretivist philosophy and an abductive approach. Primary data was collected through 14 in-depth semi-structured interviews with foreign Manchester United fanatics who have been devoted to the club for a minimum of five years. The data was interpreted using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in fan behaviour. Conclusion: The findings indicate that identity threat does not weaken belongingness but instead strengthens it, driven primarily by the IFT principle of irrevocability. Foreign fanatics prove their belongingness through three key mechanisms: financial sacrifice, active advocacy, and personal dedication. These insights reveal that foreign fans are evolving from an extension of the local group into an independent sub-in-group with its own internal norms and standards of belonging.