Belonging to a community of European fans? : European common in-group identity formation through football fandom

Abstract

This paper investigates the emergence of a new category of belonging in European football—a shared European fan identity. Drawing on theories of social identity and the Common In-Group Identity Model (CIIM), it conceptualises European football fandom as a potential site of collective identification beyond typical, more proximate identifications at the club or national levels. Using survey data from four European countries (Germany, Spain, Poland, Norway), the study examines identification with European fan communities in relation to demographic, attitudinal, and football-related factors. Results show that while club and national identifications remain relevant, a distinct European fan identity is present among a substantial share of fans. This identification is associated with younger age, higher education, stronger attachment to Europe, and greater interpersonal and particularised trust, as well as with internationalised football consumption habits, positive perceptions of other fans, and support for shared interest representation. These findings suggest that Europeanised fandom fosters a form of supranational belonging that may strengthen identifications across Europe, particularly valuable in a time marked by multiple overlapping crises.