Fare invites academics and activists to discuss the re-emergence of the far-right in European football and society, map their activity across Europe and understand the role they play outside stadiums in wider social processes.

A two day academic seminar will be hosted by Anne Frank House in Amsterdam on 27 and 28 May 2016.

Mobilisations of football supporters by the far right is nothing new, it has become part of football subcultures in many countries across Europe. Football fans have frequently supplied a membership base for extremist right political parties, but have rarely been the focus of study for political scientists for the role they play in wider social processes.

Political mass mobilisations in recent years has seen football fans trying to emerge as actors in political processes outside the stadiums including Islamophobic and anti-migrant demonstrations, social uprisings and xenophobic campaigns. Last autumn organised fans across Europe from Spain to Israel engaged in an extensive banner-debate with ‘Refugees Welcome’ and ‘not welcome’ messages. The media focused on anti-Semitic and anti-Roma incidents ahead of matches bringing to light the most pressing issues of acceptance of minorities in Europe displayed in concentrated form by football fans.

The seminar aims to bring together academics, researchers of the far-right and anti-discrimination activists in football to assess the current levels of far-right activity and organisation among football fans in Europe and their participation in wider political processes.

Participants will also discuss measures to counter the far-right activity of football fans inside and outside the stadiums. Sanctions for discriminatory actions recently adopted by football governing bodies are bringing the organised far-right groups in football to the attention of wider society and stimulating debates at national and international level.

The wider objective of the gathering is to encourage and shape challenges to the presence of far-right ideas in football that are led from below and bring to the attention the issues of racism and far-right extremism and encourage interventions at all levels.

If you wish to participate please follow the guidelines attached document.

Deadline for submissions 8 May.