I’m a Liverpool Football Club fan. I have been for as long as I can remember, and like every sports fan, I celebrate the highs and survive the lows. So, when Trent Alexander-Arnold left the club, I was upset, of course, but I didn’t fully understand the fierce backlash he received. And it’s still happening today, which was evident at the Champions League game at Anfield this week.
Talking to some of my family, they’re firmly on the side of the critics. Their reasoning is loyalty. They see Trent moving on as a betrayal. When a player we feel connected to makes a decision we don’t like, it can feel deeply personal, I get it, but footballers are people too, with lives outside the club. Their choices shouldn’t erase the affection of the fans who support them. Yet in our digital age, that nuance often gets lost.
This isn’t confined to men’s football. Recently, the release of Mary Earps’ autobiography created a storm across women’s football. Her comments about former teammates and coaches sparked intense debate online. Social media and news outlets amplified the drama, and fans, pundits, and content creators all weighed in, turning locker room issues into public spectacle. Imagine having a disagreement with a work colleague and opening your phone to see people TikTok-ing it!
This unfortunately isn’t anything new. Sports, media and social platforms have always fuelled drama. Part of it comes down to identity amplification. Fans project themselves onto players and teams and social media algorithms reward emotional reactions, outrage, scandal, and controversy spread faster than nuanced discussion.
This is why it’s so important to remember why we love sports in the first place. Being a sports fan is creative, communal, and joyful. It’s shared rituals on match days, the pride of wearing a club’s colours, the stories that span generations. These moments are extremely positive, especially for young fans forming their identities through the teams and athletes they admire.
The same channels that allow us to connect to our sports fandoms also magnify the negatives, creating pressure on athletes and fans alike. For young fans, learning to navigate this can be confusing. They see role models attacked online, debates turning ugly, and sometimes the fandom they love gets overshadowed by the negative spectacle.
This is where clubs, teams, and brands can step in. Fandom can be guided without diluting passion. We should be celebrating positive rituals, match-day traditions, fan creativity, and community storytelling. Promoting empathy-first engagement, encouraging fans to see athletes as people, not just icons. Creating safe spaces for conversation, online and offline forums where debate is healthy and moderated. Most importantly, educating young fans to show the difference between passion and negativity.
That’s why I love the work we do at Kids Industries, exploring and creating meaningful experiences for young fans that nurture long-term loyalty.
Ultimately, the joy of sports fandom lies in meaningful connections, creativity, and shared experiences. As fans, brands, and teams, we all have a responsibility to champion that joy. To create environments and experiences where passion thrives without toxicity and where the love of the game outweighs the drama.
Because at the end of the day, fandom should feel like belonging.
