Football hooligans behave like TERRORISTS, Oxford University academic claims

VIOLENT football fans and vicious ISIS terrorists share similar psychological traits, Oxford University researchers have claimed.

The mindset of hooligans who phsyically fight rival club's supporters echoes terrorist networks that are rooted in a similar sense of "brotherhood", the study suggests.

Psychologists could use this knowledge to crack down on extremism within the UK, experts at Oxford's Department of Anthropology have suggested.

They believe violence and die-hard loyalty stems from positive emotions like passionate commitment to the group and the desire to belong.

The research, featured in The International Review for the Sociology of Sport, found that hooligans across the world share a "brothers in arms" mentality.

Football fanatics view other fans as family and have an overwhelming desire to protect them, it added.

But this often erupts into violence.

Dr Martha Newson, a postdoctoral researcher at Oxford’s department of anthropology, said: "Football fandom is in many ways a positive thing that can trigger impressive displays of commitment, like attending every match come rain or shine, or setting up food banks for the community during the recession."

The paper cites an example where Middlesborough fans have been known to "attack Islamophobic comments when a Muslim player joins one's team" compared to "defending Islamaphobic comments when one's fan base has been making Islamaphobic chants".

"Even though you are not literally brothers, you share a sense of kinship based on going through life-changing ordeals together," Dr Newson added.

"This produces a shared passion for the cause – or, in football terms, the club.

"The feeling is that you are looking after your kin and protecting your family.

"We believe it’s possible to harness these motivations in ways that could lead to positive outcomes."

The scientists conducted experiments at fan sites and football grounds during the Brazilian World Cup, and fieldwork observations made at Millwall’s "The Den" and Wolverhampton Football Club.

They are working with West Midlands Police’s Football Unit to better understand fan violence and disorder.

Over time they hope to extend the research to tackle more dangerous extreme group membership, such as Isis fighters.

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Dr Newson added: "Our studies show that many extreme group behaviours are fuelled by the same motivations, but football bonding offered us a relatively safe space to start.

"The more we understand how the behaviour works, and what motivates it, the more likely our chances are of reducing it and maybe even harnessing its potential to produce more positive outcomes.

"Tackling one form of extreme group violence will give us the confidence and tools to apply the learnings to other areas such as fundamentalists and radicals."

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