Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license
Authors
1 Assistant Professor of Sport Management,, Department of Sport Management and Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
2 Professor of Sport Management, Department of Sport Management and Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
3 Ph.D Student in Sport Management, Department of Sport Management and Motor Behavior, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to explore the dimensions of beliefs in superstition and witchcraft within Iranian football and to examine their perceived behavioral consequences for fans.
Methodology: This research employed a qualitative design based on thematic analysis and was exploratory and applied in nature. Eighteen participants, including coaches, players, referees, fans, and football veterans with relevant experience, were selected through purposive and snowball sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed in two stages. First, thematic coding was conducted to identify the dimensions of the phenomenon. Second, the behavioral consequences for fans were inferred through an integrative analysis drawing on interview data, theoretical foundations, and previous research. The trustworthiness of the findings was established using Guba and Lincoln’s criteria, while reliability was confirmed through a test–retest procedure (coefficient = 0.81). Results: The analysis revealed two overarching themes—psychological and socio-cultural—comprising eight subthemes and 33 primary concepts that characterize beliefs in superstition and witchcraft in Iranian football. The findings further indicated that these beliefs may contribute to imitation and emulation among fans, social tensions, and various psychological and financial costs.
Conclusion: Beliefs in superstition and witchcraft in Iranian football represent an institutionalized and multidimensional phenomenon shaped by the interaction of psychological and socio-cultural factors. This interaction reinforces a self-perpetuating cycle whose most significant consequence is the erosion of a healthy and sustainable fan culture. Addressing this phenomenon requires coordinated and targeted interventions across institutional, educational, media, and psychological domains.
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