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Football Fan Dissatisfaction on the Rise

The tradition of booing in football has long been a part of the sport, with its origins dating back to its inception. However, a notable trend has emerged, with some spectators now directing their disapproval towards their own team.

Tottenham parted ways with manager Thomas Frank on Wednesday, a move that was widely anticipated given the team's recent struggles.

Booing has long been a staple of the football experience, with fans expressing their dissatisfaction with a particular play, player, or team performance.

The question remains, however, whether fans are more likely to boo their own team and manager nowadays, and if so, what factors are driving this behavior.

This season has seen several high-profile instances of fan discontent in the Premier League, with Thomas Frank's tenure at Tottenham being a notable example.

The final straw for Frank came in the form of a 2-1 loss to Newcastle on Tuesday, which was met with boos from the home crowd.

Frank had acknowledged the frustration of the fans in one of his final interviews, stating that he understood their discontent given the team's poor run of form.

"I understand the frustration, and I also understand that it's easy to point at me," Frank said, recognizing the scrutiny that comes with being a manager.

Frank is not the only manager to have faced criticism from fans this season, with Arne Slot and his players also experiencing booing from a small section of Liverpool supporters.

The phenomenon of booing is not limited to the Premier League, as evidenced by the treatment of Brian Sorensen by Everton fans in the Women's Super League, which ultimately contributed to his dismissal.

Former England player Wayne Rooney has spoken about the prevalence of booing throughout his career, recalling that it was a common occurrence.

"It's always been there," Rooney said. "Fans have their opinions, and sometimes they're with you, and sometimes they're against you."

Rooney attributes the increased attention on booing to the rise of social media and the presence of more TV cameras at matches.

While Rooney acknowledges that booing can be a problem when it crosses the line into abuse, he generally views it as an acceptable part of the game.

Joe Hart, another former England player, shares Rooney's perspective on booing, seeing it as an inevitable aspect of the sport.

"You get booed by the away fans, that's just part of the game," Hart said. "If I was being booed, I was probably doing something wrong."

Both Rooney and Hart believe that booing has always been a part of football, but they differ on whether it had a significant impact on their performances.

Hart claims that booing did not affect him, saying, "I've got no scars from it, put it that way. I was focused on my game, and whether I was getting applause or boos, it didn't make a difference."

Former midfielder Danny Murphy also recalls experiencing difficult moments during his career, including being booed by Fulham fans during a relegation battle.

Murphy views booing as a challenge, saying, "You have to take it as a chance to overcome it, to try and do better. If you're playing Premier League football, that's your job."

Murphy believes that players must learn to cope with booing, recognizing that it is an inherent part of the game.

"You can't have it one way and not the other," Murphy said. "If you're going to enjoy the praise of the fans when things are going well, you have to be able to handle the criticism when they're not."

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The origins of booing can be traced back to thousands of years of human evolution, with experts suggesting that it is a deeply ingrained behavior.

Stephen Smith, chair of the British Psychological Society's Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology, offers insights into the psychological factors driving booing.

According to Smith, human decision-making is often driven by emotions rather than logic, with 85-90% of decisions being irrational and emotionally driven.

Smith describes the sound of booing as "guttural" and "vibrating through the bones," suggesting that it is a primal expression of discontent.

The emotional aspect of booing is contagious, with Smith explaining that it only takes a few individuals to start the behavior, and then others will follow suit.

Smith believes that booing is a natural way for fans to express their displeasure, with the emotional part of the brain driving the behavior.

Smith also suggests that the psychological contract between clubs and fans has changed, with clubs now viewing fans as customers rather than loyal supporters.

This shift has led to a breakdown in the relationship between clubs and fans, with fans feeling that their loyalty is not being reciprocated.

As a result, fans are more likely to express their discontent through booing, which Smith views as a manifestation of the broken psychological contract.

The changed dynamic between clubs and fans has contributed to an increase in booing, with fans feeling more entitled to voice their dissatisfaction.

The question of whether booing one's own team and manager is ever justified is a complex one, with fans offering varying perspectives on the issue.

Spurs supporter Ali Speechly says she would never boo her own team, but can understand why others might do so, citing the correlation between ticket prices and fan expectations.

Speechly believes that when fans feel they are not getting value for their money, they are more likely to express their frustration through booing.

Fellow Spurs fan Darren Harvey takes a different view, saying he would boo if the team was consistently underperforming.

Harvey acknowledges that booing can be a way to fit in with the crowd, but also recognizes that it can be a spontaneous reaction to a disappointing performance.

A Manchester United fan, however, takes a more traditional view, arguing that fans should support their team through thick and thin, rather than booing them.

This fan views booing as a sign of disloyalty, suggesting that fans who engage in this behavior are "spoilt" and lack patience.

Ultimately, the debate surrounding booing highlights the complex and often conflicting emotions that fans experience when supporting their team.

An anonymous supporter suggests that substance abuse may be a contributing factor to certain behaviors.

A fan notes that the inability to purchase alcohol at matches leads some spectators to overindulge beforehand, potentially creating a more volatile atmosphere.

A witness to the Euros final between England and Italy recalls observing fans openly using cocaine, highlighting the presence of alcohol and drugs as a factor in diminished inhibitions among spectators.

The mainstream media, including the BBC, plays a significant role in drawing attention to instances of booing when they occur.

In the case of Frank, the fact that a substantial number of Tottenham fans have engaged in booing this season is considered newsworthy and thus receives media coverage.

Social media also has a significant impact, with influencers possessing large followings able to shape public discourse.

According to Speechly, social media may encourage booing by amplifying negative sentiments: "Those who spread negativity tend to garner the most attention online."

"Certain individuals can create a frenzy, which is then followed by numerous fans who have consumed this narrative online, arriving at the stadium already fueled by anger and hostility."

Determining whether fans are more likely to boo their own team and manager nowadays is a complex issue, and one that may be impossible to prove conclusively.

In comparison to previous generations, it is likely that booing is more widely discussed today due to the increased presence of media outlets, making it challenging for fans to avoid this commentary.

For a final perspective, we turn to someone who has personally experienced being booed.

Murphy remarks, "Ideally, booing wouldn't make sense, as it can negatively impact player performance and ultimately the team's result, but this isn't always a rational scenario."

"While we don't live in a world where everyone acts logically, the passion of football fans is a key aspect of what makes the game so compelling."

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NBA Imposes Fine on Utah Jazz for Violating League Integrity

The National Basketball Association has imposed a fine of $500,000, equivalent to £367,000, on the Utah Jazz for resting healthy players, a move deemed to have undermined the league’s integrity.

The Utah Jazz have secured 18 victories out of 56 games played so far this season.

The NBA has imposed a fine of $500,000 (£367,000) on the Utah Jazz for their decision to bench healthy players, which the league believes has compromised the integrity of the competition.

In recent games against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy made the decision to remove key players Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr from the lineup before the fourth quarter.

This strategy, commonly referred to as "tanking," involves coaches deliberately fielding a weaker team to improve their chances of securing a higher draft pick.

The NBA's draft system is designed to give teams with the worst records the best opportunity to select top prospects.

The Indiana Pacers have also been fined $100,000 (£73,000) for violating the league's player participation policy during their loss to the Jazz on February 4.

According to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, "behaviour that prioritises draft position over winning undermines the competitive foundation of the NBA, and we will take appropriate action in response to any further incidents that compromise the integrity of our games."

The NBA is currently working with its competition committee and board of governors to develop additional measures aimed at preventing this type of behaviour.

With the Jazz ranked 13th in the Western Conference and the Pacers 14th in the Eastern Conference, a playoff push seems unlikely for both teams, and attention is already turning to next season's roster construction.

In their recent games, the Jazz held a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter against Orlando on February 8 but ultimately lost 120-117, while they managed to defeat Miami 115-111 two days later.

Utah owner Ryan Smith expressed his disagreement with the fine on social media, stating "Agree to disagree. We won the game in Miami and still got fined, which doesn't make sense."

Head coach Will Hardy has defended his decision to bench Markkanen, citing a minutes restriction, and the team has also announced that Jackson Jr will undergo season-ending knee surgery after the All-Star games.

Hardy explained his decision, saying "I benched Lauri because he was under a minutes restriction, and I'm trying to keep him healthy, as per our medical team's instructions."

This is not the first time the Jazz have been fined for resting players; they were also fined $100,000 (£73,000) last season for resting Markkanen in multiple games.

The Pacers' fine was issued after a league investigation found that Pascal Siakam and two other players who did not participate in the game could have played, even if it was with limited minutes.

The player participation policy was introduced by the NBA in 2023 as a measure to discourage teams from deliberately losing games to improve their draft lottery chances.

Business

Artist Alleges AirAsia Used His Work Without Permission

A street artist from Penang has reported that one of his artworks has been replicated and featured on the design of an airplane.

A lawsuit has been filed by a Malaysian-based artist against AirAsia and its parent company, Capital A Berhad, alleging unauthorized use of the artist's designs on one of the airline's planes.

A low-resolution image of an AirAsia aircraft with artwork children cycling printed on its side. The passenger plane is pictured parked in an airport — Artist Ernest Zacharevic is sueing AirAsia over the use of a livery on one of its jets in 2024

According to the lawsuit, Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian-born artist residing in Penang, claims that his 2012 street mural, Kids on Bicycle, was reproduced and displayed on an AirAsia aircraft in late 2024 without his permission.

Zacharevic states that the use of his design was unauthorized, and no licensing agreement or consent was obtained, adding that the livery was removed after he publicly expressed concerns about the matter.

The BBC has reached out to AirAsia for a statement regarding the allegations.

In an interview with the BBC on Thursday, Zacharevic recalled that he first became aware of the alleged copyright infringement in October 2024, when he discovered that an AirAsia plane was featuring a livery resembling his artwork.

With over a decade of experience in Malaysia, Zacharevic is known for his roadside murals in Penang, which have become a staple of the local art scene.

One of Zacharevic's notable works is the 2012 street mural Kids on Bicycle, created for a local festival, which features two children on a bicycle integrated into the mural, located in George Town's heritage district.

The mural has become a popular tourist attraction, with many visitors taking photos in front of the iconic artwork.

Zacharevic alleges that his work was reproduced on an AirAsia plane without his knowledge or consent, and he personally witnessed the plane in operation at an airport.

Recalling the incident, Zacharevic expressed his discomfort with the situation, which occurred in 2024.

He took to social media to address the issue, posting a photo of the plane and tagging the airline, suggesting that they needed to discuss the use of his artwork.

A photograph of a wall mural, depicting two children in white tops. The images in painted to show the children seated on a real-life bicycle. — Zacharevic painted Kids on Bicycle, a famous wall mural in Penang, in 2012

Since then, Zacharevic has engaged in discussions with the company, but they have been unable to come to a mutually agreeable resolution.

This is not the first instance of Zacharevic's work being used in connection with AirAsia, as he claims the airline has also used his artwork on a delivery bag for its food services arm.

Court documents reveal that Zacharevic had previously discussed a potential collaboration with AirAsia in 2017, where he would create art for the airline's jets and a mural in one of their offices.

According to the documents, Zacharevic had informed the airline of his work and business rates during these discussions.

The lawsuit asserts that despite being aware of Zacharevic's work and rates, the airline proceeded to reproduce and publicly display one of his notable works, thereby infringing on his copyright and moral rights.

As the largest low-cost carrier in Asia, AirAsia operates over 200 jets to more than 100 destinations, and has recently announced plans to resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to London via Bahrain.

Zacharevic has stated that he will leave it to the court to determine any potential compensation he may be entitled to.

The artist emphasized that he does not consider the use of his artwork to be a mere reference to cultural or geographical associations, but rather a distinct artistic creation.

Zacharevic stressed that his artwork is the result of years of professional training, skill, and labor, and should be recognized as such.

News

Northern Ireland boss O’Neill poised for Blackburn Rovers move

Michael O’Neill, the manager of Northern Ireland, is poised to take on a position with Blackburn Rovers, a Championship club, in a dual capacity that will last until the end of the current season.

Michael O'Neill has begun his second stint as the manager of the Northern Ireland national team.

It has been announced that Northern Ireland's manager, Michael O'Neill, is expected to take on a dual role with Championship club Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season.

In March, Northern Ireland will face Italy in a World Cup play-off semi-final, followed by a potential match against either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina, depending on the outcome of the Italy game.

O'Neill will remain involved with the Northern Ireland team for these matches and the World Cup finals, if they qualify.

After the current season, O'Neill is expected to take on the manager's role at Blackburn Rovers on a full-time basis.

Damien Johnson, a former Northern Ireland midfielder, will assist O'Neill at Blackburn Rovers for the remainder of the season.

If an agreement with the Irish FA is reached promptly, O'Neill could be in charge of Blackburn Rovers for their upcoming Championship match against Queen's Park Rangers on Saturday.

Currently, Blackburn Rovers are ranked 22nd in the table, narrowly outside the safety zone due to their goal difference.

The team has been without a permanent manager since Valerien Ismael's departure on February 2, with Damien Johnson serving as interim manager.

In 2020, O'Neill had a similar arrangement with Stoke City, where he balanced his duties with both the club and the national team.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic led to a delay in the Euro 2020 play-offs, and O'Neill left his position before those matches took place.

O'Neill returned to manage the national team in 2022, signing a contract that will keep him in the role until after the Euro 2028 campaign.

Northern Ireland is aiming to qualify for its first World Cup in 40 years and its first major tournament since O'Neill led the team to the Euro 2016 finals during his initial tenure.

O'Neill attended the Nations League draw on Thursday, where Northern Ireland was paired with Hungary, Ukraine, and Georgia, but he did not interact with the media in Brussels.

England's Nations League draw has resulted in matches against Spain and Croatia.