IS FOOTBALL FANDOM A FORM OF PIETY? BEŞİKTAŞ’S HYMN CHEERS

Abstract

Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. Football was born in England in the second half of the 19th century and started to play in Turkey from beginning of the 20th century. In Turkey, especially in the post-coup period September 12,1980, football began to be seen as an important part for the depoliticization of the youth, who were the subject of ideological conflict in the 1970s. But ironically different results have emerged. Can some of the attitudes and behaviours of the fans who support their teams be read as form of piety? In the article focusing on that question. Firstly, the symbolism of football as a game was emphasized, then the relation between football and religion similarities. Beşiktaş JK fan behaviours with the religious, hymns, rituals and practices were tried to be proved