Toxic whiteness in sports fandom: a reflective analysis of fan racism between football codes in the United Kingdom and Australia

Abstract

This article commentary highlights the pattern of findings from various projects conducted in the United Kingdom on football fans and in Australia on football, Australian Rules football, and rugby league fans, regarding the extent of fan racism present in each sport. It is from these projects I argue that toxic Whiteness is present in a White dominant society through a practice that locates the characteristics associated with Whiteness (power, privilege, dominance, supremacy, difference) at the top of the racial hierarchy. Although Whites can consciously or unconsciously express or resist engaging in racist behaviour, I argue that expressions of racism that are meant to cause harm or distress to “Other” individuals or groups are at the core of toxic Whiteness.