Identitas Sosial Fans Loyal dan Fans Karbit Klub Sepak Bola Kalangan Mahasiswa USU

Abstract

In campus environments and across social media platforms, a growing practice of labeling and social stratification has emerged among football fansparticularly between those identified as “loyal fans” and “bandwagon fans.” The phenomenon of football fandom has become a vital aspect of student social life, not merely as a form of entertainment but also as an expression of personal identity. On campus, differences between loyal and bandwagon fans often trigger stigma, labeling, and symbolic hierarchies within fan communities. This study is motivated by the emergence of these social dynamics among university students, which manifest through varied forms of support expression, depth of club knowledge, and the influence of digital media in shaping football fan identities. This research adopts a qualitative descriptive approach, utilizing in-depth interviews with six students of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) from diverse fandom backgrounds. The data were analyzed through the lens of social identity theory and the anthropology of sport as the theoretical foundation. The findings indicate that loyal fans generally have long-standing fandom experiences, consistently follow the club’s developments, engage in both online and offline communities, and integrate the club into their personal identity. In contrast, bandwagon fans tend to show support when the club is popular or achieving success, often influenced by social media, popular players, or trending topics. Nevertheless, both groups view football fandom as a means of self-actualization, albeit with varying degrees of emotional involvement. The study's discussion reveals that the symbolic conflict between loyalty and bandwagonism reflects broader dynamics of symbolic power within popular campus culture. In the context of social anthropology, football fandom is a cultural practice that expresses values, solidarity, and resistance to collective identity norms among students.