Whether they helped bring down Jose Mourinho, led a march against their club owner or pushed back against plans to commercialize their sport, fans have a long history of using the power of their passions to fight for change. Whether it’s in the streets or the arena, their stories remind us that fan activism is more than just a fad.

Hundreds of Crystal Palace supporters took to the streets before their team’s match with Manchester United, shouting at owner Daniel Levy to leave the club. The chants were part of a wider protest against the club’s board, which has been in control of the Premier League side for nearly 20 years.

While many fans don’t protest, some do — and the consequences can be serious. These conflicts often revolve around struggles about social hierarchy, with fans berating each other for being wild, uneducated or young. But some also cross lines, with a few cases of “Doxing,” where participants’ personal information is exposed online against their will.

A recent study suggests that some fan protests may actually be effective at changing the behavior of sports teams. It demonstrates the potential for Activism of Care, a model that was used in disability activism to destigmatize mental illness and celebrate neurodivergent participants, but which has yet to be fully implemented in all fandoms. This paper suggests reimagining this model and exploring the possibility of its use in other fandoms.