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What keeps football fans hooked to the 'beautiful game'? Science has the answer; read here
A study reveals how football triggers feel-good chemicals, emotional highs, and deep bonds, keeping fans hooked despite setbacks.
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Football, often called "the beautiful game," has long held an unshakable grip on fans worldwide, inspiring unwavering loyalty even in the face of disappointment. Now, researchers at King’s College London have uncovered the secret behind this phenomenon – the powerful cocktail of feel-good chemicals released in the brain while watching a match.
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The study reveals that witnessing your team score a goal triggers a surge of dopamine, the same chemical responsible for feelings of euphoria, akin to winning the lottery. According to researchers, the "high" experienced during football may even surpass that of other sports because goals are relatively rare, making each one a more significant emotional event.
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This unpredictability and the euphoric “hit” it provides drive fans to watch matches frequently, chasing the same thrilling rush. Alongside dopamine, football fans also experience an increase in testosterone levels and heart rates exceeding 100 beats per minute during matches, further amplifying the excitement.
The hypothalamus plays its part too, producing oxytocin – the so-called "cuddle hormone" – which strengthens the bonds between fans. This chemical release fosters a deep sense of camaraderie, both within stadiums and among supporters gathered around screens worldwide.
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Dr. Matt Butler, a research fellow at King’s College London, notes that football fandom shares surprising parallels with the rituals of ancient humans. The trek to a football ground, he says, is comparable to the journeys made by Neolithic people to sacred sites like Stonehenge for communal feasts. "Sacred locality was seemingly as important to our ancestors as it is to football fans today, where the sense of place, the stadium, is indelibly linked to the sometimes profoundly emotional memories of matches," he explains.
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In the end, football isn’t just about the game – it’s about the shared experiences, emotional highs, and the sense of belonging that keeps fans coming back, no matter the result on the pitch. As science confirms, the magic of the beautiful game goes far beyond the scoreboard.
