Title: Soccer culture in Israel: a state of anomie

Authors: Natan Uriely, Abraham Mehrez

Addresses: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel. ' Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel

Abstract: This article provides a conceptual analysis of contemporary soccer culture in Israel. The analysis focuses on the cultural consequences of recent shifts toward market-oriented and televised soccer. It is suggested that these developments encouraged members of the middle class to become involved with the culture of soccer, which had until now been solely perceived as a working class sport. Consequently current soccer culture includes a mixture of working and middle class norms and values that constitutes an |anomistic| state of ambiguity. This contention is illustrated by making reference to recent incidents involving soccer practitioners.

Keywords: soccer culture; Israel; anomie.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2006.008121

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2006 Vol.1 No.3, pp.268 - 278

Published online: 17 Nov 2005 *

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