I think that at least in Europe it reflects a part of society that is becoming increasingly right wing. Football used to be a people’s sport but as time went on it became a household thing mostly attached to patriarchal views. Football is ‘supposed to be for men’ after all. It is no surprise that men, in turn, tend to hold on to this bastion of manliness. And with everything in society, you have these layers to this issue.

Your average football fan may be open to change, however slow it may be. I personally have seen the demographic in my team’s stadium evolve over time. More women and POC are now finding their way to the matches, for example. Not everyone is bothered by the captain wearing a rainbow band, or with a gay supporting group being founded.

However, there are also highly reactionary fans and they are often the loudest fans in the ultras section. These same ultras sections are often filled with outcast type of people and often right wing minded, young men find their way into these parts. And with them come these views of glorifying violence, defending your own people, etc. This is what happens when you have a people’s sport, strip it from any people’s ideology and turn it into a multi billion euro soulles industry. My team used to be a factory workers’ team but nothing remains of that. It’s just a regional team now. A multi million euro team, with the sole purpose of generating profit. The fans have no say in it.

Wherever patriarchal, violent, status quo ideologies are upheld and wherever they face no confrontation, they will flourish.

But times are changing. Women’s football is coming up and they are much more based imo. Gay people in football still have a long way to go but at least it is talked about today. And there are still lots of left wing clubs to be found.