# European soccer fans showing up very uniformly in team colors **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 2, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-soccer-fans-showing-up-very-uniformly-in-team-colors/750994 "2016-04-02T23:07:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-soccer-fans-showing-up-very-uniformly-in-team-colors/750994/41 "2016-04-06T01:05:02Z")
Penguins also have their “White-Out” night, when they give everyone white towels to wave, instead of their traditional black and gold colors. > [@Ponch8](#): > > Another reason may be that in American sports, there may be more mixing of fans from each team (especially when the visiting team has a large fan base). In European soccer matches, my understanding is that supporters of the two sides are largely segregated from each other in order to prevent fights. That could be it too (I didn’t know that there were separate areas for other sides). So like I said, look at some close-up photos. There’s also the odd person wearing a costume. You’ll see tons of people in team-related attire. (BTW, do people in Europe bring signs to games?) ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-soccer-fans-showing-up-very-uniformly-in-team-colors/750994/42 "2016-04-06T01:52:12Z")
> [@bump](#): > > …Pretty much solid blue & gold (Michigan Wolverines’ colors). Maize, not gold, thankyouverymuch. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-soccer-fans-showing-up-very-uniformly-in-team-colors/750994/43 "2016-04-06T23:33:37Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I think you see more of that at college football games than at pro games – college teams are more likely to have fight songs, school songs, etc. Maybe, but at soccer games it is common to have songs for individual players. But the best ones are just randomly made up on the moment to a familiar tune. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-soccer-fans-showing-up-very-uniformly-in-team-colors/750994/44 "2016-04-07T03:26:56Z")
Ah, I think I figured it out. I was watching my DVR recording of Liverpool v. Tottenham (from this past Sat) and I realized why soccer fans appear to all be wearing team colors. Unlike American sports fans, the **team scarf** is massive in soccer fandom. So Liverpool fans were wearing all sorts of black and blue coats, but a ton of them were wearing the red scarves, giving the appearance of everyone wearing the team color. It was cold enough that I didn’t see a single jersey (they were likely under their coats), but the scarves indicated team loyalty pretty clearly. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-soccer-fans-showing-up-very-uniformly-in-team-colors/750994/45 "2016-04-08T08:04:25Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > (BTW, do people in Europe bring signs to games?) Not usually, and if they do it’s got to be soft (you may be able to get a painted bedsheet passed, but don’t try it with a placard). Sometimes people may be given signs or colored cardboard if the team itself has prepared something, but it’s more likely to happen in games considered absolute low-risk such as benefits. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2016, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-soccer-fans-showing-up-very-uniformly-in-team-colors/750994/46 "2016-04-08T10:38:19Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > You can’t really judge by American football games **especially ones palyed outdoors**. Fans might be wearing team colors but also have to wear winter coats. In my several decades of going to games I would say in most sports the majority of people are wearing some sort of team attire. The colors won’t be uniform because maybe it’s a tee shirt, or maybe the home jersey as opposed to the away jersey. Or maybe it’s one of hundreds of throwback or special uniforms that they sell to make more money. It’s not universal but it is prevalent. > > As someone above said in European soccer the ones seen on camera are often the rabid supporters of the team and all belong to a club. In American sports those close to the camera are probably in corporate boxes and casual fans at best. Or the type of people who are concerned about how they may be seen in public. Bolding mine. College and pro football both start in summer. Most of the season is in the fall, (college is done by the end of fall except for semi warm weather bowl games). The NFL ends in early winter with the playoffs (when Bears and Browns fans are mostly at home) held in the cold of January. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-soccer-fans-showing-up-very-uniformly-in-team-colors/750994/47 "2016-04-14T00:15:11Z")
Turn on the Pens/Rangers game right now. It’s just a sea of bright yellow. (They’re calling a “Gold Rush” for the play-offs) ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-soccer-fans-showing-up-very-uniformly-in-team-colors/750994/48 "2016-04-14T11:54:51Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > It will snow in hell before they win shit however. > > And that’s coming from a fan. Do’t be so pessimistic. In two or three years time they’ll probably be in with a good chance of winning League One… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-soccer-fans-showing-up-very-uniformly-in-team-colors/750994.md?page=2)