Sports clubs and associations

Athletes and sports fans represent a cross-section of society as a whole. So naturally, they also participate in societally-relevant debates and express their opinions in their respective clubs.

The national increase in extreme right-wing, racist, anti-Semitic and right-wing populist attitudes can therefore also be found in the everyday realities of sports clubs. For example, if people are treated with hostility, attacked or even excluded due to their ethnic, religious, cultural or sexual orientation. This poses a major challenge for the affected parties as well as for those who defend a diverse and open society and want to promote these values within the general area of sports and athletics.

In the past, certain fan groups and environments have been mobilised to participate in extreme right-wing or right-wing populist marches. Meeting points for fans, journeys to games or the sporting event itself have occasionally been the point of origin of extreme right-wing, racist or anti-Semitic incidents, threats or even attacks. Nowadays, these instances can also be found in digital environments and social media. For example, websites and platforms of sporting associations and clubs, or of individual athletes who openly decry right-wing extremism and are committed to democracy, diversity and respect are frequently targeted by hostile attacks.

As a result, the MBR advises and supports fans and members as well as chair people and employees of sporting associations and clubs.

MBR consultations in these fields may focus on:

  • Training for employees in sporting associations in the areas of public relations and social media.
  • Advice on how to deal with racism and anti-minority sentiments in one’s own club.
  • Supporting the development and mediation of user regulations in sports facilities.

Relevant MBR
publications

Beratungs-
Beispiele

The right-wing cultural struggle in cultural institutions and memorial sites
Example consultation

The right-wing cultural struggle in cultural institutions and memorial sites

Museums, memorial sites as well as artists and creatives have been experiencing increased political pressure from the right in recent ...
(Local) politician who has been threatened
Example consultation

(Local) politician who has been threatened

Committed politicians are increasingly receiving threatening letters, emails or calls. Some have even found themselves on a so-called "list of ...
Conspiracy ideologies in private life
Example consultation

Conspiracy ideologies in private life

"QAnon" conspiracy group stickers appear in the common stairwell, links are shared in the WhatsApp family chat that connect 5G ...
Anti-Semitism and conspiracy ideologies in schools
Example consultation

Anti-Semitism and conspiracy ideologies in schools

School is an important societal institution and a place of socialisation for children and adolescents. But schools are not spared ...