ISSN 2736-1721
Global Journal of Business Management ISSN 6731-4538 Vol. 5 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2011. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A preliminary comparative study of rugby and football spectators’ attitudes towards violence
Andre D. Slabbert and Wilfred I. Ukpere*
Faculty of Business, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Cape Town, South Africa.
Accepted 11 February, 2019
Abstract
Rugby and football (soccer) are both international sports, and economic entities in their own right, as evidenced by the growth in attendance and television viewership at the respective World Cups. The issue of sport as catharsis, or conversely, as aggression-generating event, has always been controversial. In order to assess the orientation of rugby and football spectators towards violence, 404 spectators were surveyed. Results indicate significant differences between rugby and football spectators, with football spectators exhibiting higher levels of aggression towards the referee and opposing players. It emerged that the concept of sport as catharsis is not a reality when the spectators’ side loses a match. A call is made for extensive education of all role players in football if the sport is not to be negatively affected.
Key words: Aggression, catharsis, football, rugby, spectators and violence.