BEYOND A GAME: PEER EDUCATION TO SEPARATE FOOTBALL AND VIOLENCE

Main Article Content

Perihan Elif Ekmekci
Kumru Done
Berna Arda
Alp Burak Ekmekci

Abstract

Football, one of the sports with roots in history, has been associated with violence and tragedy in various countries. Several studies have tried to understand the nature and structure of hooliganism and its common cross-national characteristics, severity, and causes. Although existing literature suggests a variety of strategies to prevent violence in football, it is widely accepted that there must be grassroots movements and self-awareness, besides these measures,to reduce cases of aggressionin football. This study, whichwas awardedthe Fair Play prize in 2014 by the Turkish Olympic Committee, focuses on training fans using the peer education methodology. The young fans of Beşiktaş Football Club implemented a peer education program and conducted an online survey to assess itseffectiveness and understand the participants’ perceptions and reflections regarding the causes of and methods to preventfootball hooliganism.The results suggest that the training program was effective and that it should be disseminated to reach all other associations to achieve results that are more positive.

Article Details

Section
Articles
Author Biographies

Perihan Elif Ekmekci, TOBB ETU

Faculty of Medicine Department of history of medicine and ethics

Kumru Done, Ministry of Health Turkey

EU affairs

Berna Arda, Ankara University

Faculty of medicine department of history of medicine and ethics

Alp Burak Ekmekci, Ministry of Health Turkey

Gazi Mustafa Kemal State Hospital Department of Orthopedics

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