Perception of a football stadium as (social) space for women

The chapter answers one of the fundamental questions, that is, whether football stands are appropriate places for women. The vast majority of female fans, unsurprisingly, strongly agree or somewhat agree with this statement. Their participation in fandom performances, their commitment to the clubs and the frequency with which they attend the matches reveal that the football stadium is ‘their’ place. However, data from interviews show that women are welcomed at the stands as far as they follow the rules set down by male counterparts. The perception of the stadium as a space appropriate for women is also related to the issue of safety. The survey reveals that many fans link the growing population of women in stadiums to increasing security standards in the stands. The acceptance of female fans is decreasing in the case of away matches which are spaces for (homo)socialising and fraternity.