THE CONVERSATION: Anger, remorse, conspiracy theories: how sports fans cope when their club does wrong

When Manchester City, one of the world's largest sports clubs, was found guilty by the English Premier League of 114 breaches of financial rules involving nearly £1 billion, fans experienced a range of reactions, from remorse to conspiracy theories. The passionate supporters of the team, known as "superfans," are deeply invested in their club and can experience intense emotional responses when their team is accused of wrongdoing.

Researchers have found that when faced with significant transgressions, some fans separate themselves from their team's negative actions, a process called "moral uncoupling." However, for many Manchester City fans, forgiveness was readily extended to their team, but not necessarily to their competitors. The club is majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group and its subsidiary, City Football Group, which owns several other clubs around the world.

The financial and legal implications of this scandal have been widely discussed, with Manchester City's owners denying any wrongdoing and appealing the ruling. However, the impact on the passionate fans who invest money in tickets, travel, accommodation, television subscriptions, and merchandise is less talked about. For these dedicated supporters, a scandal can lead to a range of emotions, from shame to anger, and sometimes conspiracy theories.

One example of this phenomenon is the reaction of City fans to allegations of a "Premier League conspiracy theory" against the club. Their chief executive, Ferran Soriano, has suggested that Uefa, Europe's soccer governing body, has had it in for Manchester City. This has fueled suspicions within the fanbase and led to some supporters spreading conspiracy theories about how their team has been unfairly targeted.

In response to such scandals, sports clubs can face severe punishments, including large fines, points deductions, bans from certain competitions, and even liquidation. The extreme case of Scottish club Glasgow Rangers, which was liquidated in 2012, serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of such actions. If Manchester City were to face a similar fate, their fans could be forced to move from luxury facilities like Arsenal's Emirates Stadium to lower-league clubs such as Accrington Stanley and Port Vale.