Negative attitudes in sports competitions: Extent, forms, causes and ways of remedy: A field study on sports fans in Riyadh city

Abstract

The study seeks to identify forms of negative attitudes exercised by some young Saudis after sports competitions, extent and prevalence among fans as well as the factors associated with these behaviors. It employs the results to eliminate such negative attitudes. In order to achieve the objectives of the study a social survey method is used with a population consisting of 288 youths in the gathering places of youths around Riyadh. Findings show that the overwhelming majority of respondents engages in one or more type of negative behavior. These types of behavior can be arranged in descending order according to the ratio of practice as follows: Closure of streets with cars, car drifting, dance between cars, cursing others, obstruction of traffic flow, harassment of women, and stoning cars. The more violent the behavior, such as assaulting others, the less practiced these types of misbehavior. The study recommends further related studies on the local level because of the Rapid change in the community for the social communication networks and the necessity of looking at this phenomenon as a common responsibility that requires coordination among all authorities to counter it.