Lots of takes criticising fans for not mobilising around other issues - like racism - rather than recognising the processes at work that fans represent. And how we can learn from fans to tackle these other issues.

This week has shown one thing clearly. People mobilise around a ‘moral shock’ - an emotional reaction to an event (eg BLM after George Floyd’s murder). The same is true about the #SuperLeague. It was an immediate emotional reaction and fans mobilised.

Criticising fans for not doing more about racism, commodification or other social problems a) ignores what fans have done and b) fails to recognise the processes of change.

Racism is a social problem outside of football. We live in a racist society. Why assume all fans would automatically feel the same ‘moral shock’ to racism? There are still people who believe George Floyd deserved to be murdered. Some fans challenge, but many don’t (as in society)

Global capitalism has had a slow influence on football. The founding of the Premier League, Champions League & Hillsborough provided catalysts for fan mobilisation. But others see their club doing well so go along for the ride. That’s how capitalism works (as in society)

We could say the same about climate change. We know it’s happening, but the process is slow & people don’t feel it in the same way. So It doesn’t create the same moral shock (as in society)

The key then is how to engage fans (& society) so that they identify with the issue emotionally, and spur them into action. This is why education on racism, climate change etc is important. It raises consciousness & mobilises action.

Football has a lot of problems, but focusing on them for failing to solve society’s issues is not one of them. Ask why people don’t identify with the abuse of others or why they’re not outraged at police murdering George Floyd (every other person killed by the police)?

Ask why some people will resist a housing estate or road being built in their area but not a polluting factory being built in the Global South.

Recognising the powerful emotional engagement fans have with football - and their wider communities - is a way of understanding other groups and how to mobilise them.