Volume 26, Issue 100 (4-2026)
refahj 2026, 26(100): 0-0 |
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nazari F, norouzi M, mohamadi ghareh ghani M A. (2026). A Scoping Review of Iranian Studies on Football Hooliganism: Theoretical Trends, Methodological Patterns, and Key Determinants. refahj. 26(100), : 7 doi:10.32598/refahj.26.100.1
URL: http://refahj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-4462-en.html
URL: http://refahj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-4462-en.html
Abstract: (758 Views)
Introduction:This study provides a scoping review of research on football hooliganism in Iran. Despite the growing body of studies since the early 2000s, no comprehensive synthesis has examined their theoretical, methodological, and thematic orientations. Football hooliganism is understood as collective and often violent spectator behavior emerging from social frustration and emotional arousal.
Method:. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in major Persian academic databases (SID, MagIran, ISC, Noormags, and Ensani). Studies published between 2000 and 2024 were screened according to predefined inclusion criteria. Fifty eligible articles were identified and assessed using the MMAT (2018) quality appraisal tool. Data were analyzed through thematic and comparative approaches to identify dominant research patterns.
Findings: The findings indicate that most studies were grounded in a positivist paradigm (70%) and employed quantitative methods (64%). Research primarily focused on aggressive and violent spectator behaviors. Sociological perspectives (20%) and frustration–aggression theory (16%) were the most frequently applied theoretical frameworks. Social factors (30%) and psychological variables (20%) emerged as the most commonly investigated determinants, while false emotions and leader influence were identified as key mediating factors. Overall, the literature tends to explain hooliganism through linear causal models emphasizing individual and social factors.
Discussion: The findings suggest that research on football hooliganism in Iran has largely emphasized individual and behavioral explanations, with limited attention to structural, cultural, and institutional factors. A more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon requires interdisciplinary approaches that integrate social, psychological, media, and institutional dimensions. Future qualitative and policy-oriented studies could provide deeper insights into the causes of sports-related violence and inform more effective prevention strategies.
Method:. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in major Persian academic databases (SID, MagIran, ISC, Noormags, and Ensani). Studies published between 2000 and 2024 were screened according to predefined inclusion criteria. Fifty eligible articles were identified and assessed using the MMAT (2018) quality appraisal tool. Data were analyzed through thematic and comparative approaches to identify dominant research patterns.
Findings: The findings indicate that most studies were grounded in a positivist paradigm (70%) and employed quantitative methods (64%). Research primarily focused on aggressive and violent spectator behaviors. Sociological perspectives (20%) and frustration–aggression theory (16%) were the most frequently applied theoretical frameworks. Social factors (30%) and psychological variables (20%) emerged as the most commonly investigated determinants, while false emotions and leader influence were identified as key mediating factors. Overall, the literature tends to explain hooliganism through linear causal models emphasizing individual and social factors.
Discussion: The findings suggest that research on football hooliganism in Iran has largely emphasized individual and behavioral explanations, with limited attention to structural, cultural, and institutional factors. A more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon requires interdisciplinary approaches that integrate social, psychological, media, and institutional dimensions. Future qualitative and policy-oriented studies could provide deeper insights into the causes of sports-related violence and inform more effective prevention strategies.
Article number: 7
Keywords: Football hooliganism, scoping review, spectator behavior, frustration–aggression theory, Iran.
Type of Study: review |
Received: 2025/04/25 | Accepted: 2026/05/5 | Published: 2026/05/31
Received: 2025/04/25 | Accepted: 2026/05/5 | Published: 2026/05/31
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