Identifying Fans' Coping Strategies, Against Team Identity Threat (Case study of Esteghlal FC)

The concept of team identity threat and fan’s coping strategies has recently been considered by sports management researchers and so far no research has been conducted in this field in the country. In this regard, the present study was conducted with the aim of identifying the fan’s coping strategies against team identity threat with a case study of Esteghlal FC fans. The research method was qualitative research in the form of content analysis and the statistical society included the Esteghlal FC fans who followed the Instagram page of this team. The sampling method was purposeful and in-depth interviews were conducted with 28 samples up to theoretical saturation. Coding technique was used to analyze the data and NVivo software version 10 was used to classify the data. The results showed that the fan’s coping strategies in the conditions of the team identity threat in two comprehensive, emotion-oriented themes that include 6 sub-themes; keeping distance from the team, optimism for the future, past achievements, reinforcement, pessimism and blame of others, and humor, and problem-oriented theme, which includes 2 sub-themes; Explosions and destructive behaviors are categorized. The results have provided important applications in both theoretical and practical parts. On the one hand, it is the first study conducted in the field of fan’s coping strategies against the threat of team identity and has closed part of the huge gap in this field in domestic and foreign researches. In addition, it has provided a coherent view of types of fan’s coping strategies in facing team identity threats and a wide range of necessary management measures for a better management in these strategies.