Beyond local belonging: The socio-political construction of football fandom in Türkiye

This study aims to examine the fandom experiences of Ankara-based individuals who support one of Istanbul's Big Three football clubs (Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, and Galatasaray) from a socio-political perspective. Conducted using a phenomenological design, the study involved interviews with 18 participants, and the data were analyzed using template analysis. The findings revealed that non-local fandom is a multi-layered social phenomenon constructed through early socialization processes, spatial hierarchies, asymmetric media structures, and hegemonic relations. Fandom, which begins in childhood, particularly through the father figure, evolves into an unquestionable habitus. Ankara's hybrid position as a political center and cultural periphery introduces elements that hinder the establishment of belonging to local football clubs and reinforce an orientation toward Istanbul as a symbolic center. Media ecology plays a significant role in reproducing hegemony by normalizing the dominance of the Big Three. Although participants are aware of structural inequalities, they maintain their fandom practices and transmit them to their children, thereby sustaining the hegemonic cycle. The research demonstrates that non-local fandom is a micro-level reflection of center-periphery dynamics, cultural hegemony, and symbolic hierarchies in Türkiye.