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Organized Fan Groups and Sports Journalism in Brazil: A Social History of Soccer Fans in the City of Rio de Janeiro



Author(s)

Bernardo Buarque de Hollanda Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) – The Social Sciences School – São Paulo, Brazil

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DOI:10.17265/2159-550X/2017.01.005

The article focuses on sources of Brazilian sports journalism and demonstrates the role of organized soccer fan groups in Rio de Janeiro between the 1940s and 1980s, this is achieved through reports provided by the Brazilian newspaper Jornal dos Sports. From the beginning, there are biographical notes made about the most well-known fan leaders in Rio, such as Jaime de Carvalho, who founded the Charanga (1942). The emergence of dissent among the fans, in the late 1960s, is then covered, which establishes itself within the organized fans in Rio with these individuals beginning to question the authority of the old fan group leaders. This is against the principle of giving unconditional support to the club and it is postulated that the fans have the right to criticize and protest against the club’s management, even if this means using forceful tactics. Along with the journalistic narrative, there is a break-off by the “Young Fans” and a process of emancipation begins which occurs over the 1970s, this happens by means of the use of fan coaches and the invention of a lifestyle that is associated with soccer. Finally, the 1980s is marked by the constructive and destructive potential that is linked to fan groups. On the one hand, creating an Association of fans—Astorj—is pointed to in order to reach a mutual understanding, but it should be noted, on the other, that there are feuds, in a scenario of spiraling violence, in which fights, beatings, and even murders begin to be commonplace.

Brazilian soccer history, supporters’ groups, youth, culture, politics in the 1960s