Reducing spectator violence in Zimbabwe’s Premier Soccer League

Abstract

The Zimbabwean soccer scene has continued to be dogged by the problem of increasing spectator violence despite the calls and efforts of various stakeholders to reduce it. The efforts to deal with the problem have had little effect and this has affected the game negatively in many aspects. Through a participatory action research design the study sought to explore the nature, causes, and effects of the violence. The study also sought to establish how the spectators could be engaged in the efforts to reduce the violence. The study was informed by Galtung’s violence theory and Lederach’s conflict transformation theory. Through the participation of members a local soccer supporters’ club the study found that violence manifests in various forms in and that the causes of violence are many. Some of the causes of violence are psychological while some are systemic. The participants in the study were able to run a workshop on violence which was regarded as a necessary first step in the fight against spectator violence. Another important finding was that participatory action research can indeed be used effectively to address the issue of spectator violence. The study goes on to present recommendations based on the findings. One of the recommendations made is that an infrastructure for reducing spectator violence be established by the various stakeholders involved in soccer