Citation
Kilvington, D., Ahmed, W., Fenton, A., & Webster, C. (2026). Using social network analysis to study hate speech in English football during the White Lives Matter banner controversy. IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review.
Full paper available soon or on request
Using Social Network Analysis to Study Hate Speech in English Football During the White Lives Matter Banner Controversy
Abstract
In June 2020, a group of football supporters from Burnley FC arranged for a ‘White Lives Matter’ banner to be flown over Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium in protest against the English Premier League’s (EPL) decision to support the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Utilising a mixed methods Social Network Analysis (SNA) approach, we identified opinion leaders on X (formerly Twitter) to assess their influence in shaping the discussions and narrative. Systemic Racism Theory (SRT) was used to theoretically underpin the findings. In turn, we found that many users were critical of BLM and offered perspectives within a White supremacist frame; however, others supported football’s anti-racist endeavours. We found that some users hijacked the incident to help fuel far-right agendas, demonstrating that football fans are being targeted online. Our study highlights the differences between individual and organised racism and illustrates that far-right and White supremacist groups use football to fuel racist rhetoric and potentially radicalise fans. The study emphasises the cruciality of understanding digital influence networks, information dissemination, and the role of opinion leaders in shaping online narratives in contexts that intersect sports, politics, and societal issues.
Key Words: social networking; computer-mediated communications; information society
Daniel Kilvington
Leeds Beckett University
Portland Building. Portland Way,
City Campus, Leeds, LS1 3HE
Work Telephone: +44 113 812 0000
Email: d.j.kilvington@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Wasim Ahmed*
University of Hull, Business School
Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX
Email: w.ahmed@hull.ac.uk
Alex Fenton
University of Chester, Business School
Churchill House, Queens Park Campus, Chester, CH4 7AD
Work Telephone: +44 01244 511000
Email: a.fenton@chester.ac.uk
Christopher Webster
Leeds Beckett University
Portland Building. Portland Way,
City Campus, Leeds, LS1 3HE
Work Telephone: +44 113 812 0000
Email: Christopher.Webster@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
*(Corresponding Author)