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Top 10 Craziest Sports Fans of All Time

by George Smith
fact checked by Rachel Jones

Alright, folks, we sports fans come in all shapes and sizes. There are the casual watchers who catch a game here and there, the die-hard crowd who never miss a beat, and the lunatics—the crazy sports fans who take their love for their team to a whole new level.

These wild and wacky fans are the ones who paint their faces, dress up in outlandish costumes, and scream until their vocal cords give out. They’re the ones who travel cross-country just to see their team play and will fight tooth and nail with anyone who dares to disrespect their beloved squad.

But what drives these fans to go to such extreme lengths for a game? It could be the adrenaline rush or the chance to be a part of something bigger than themselves. But one thing is for sure; these guys bring excitement to a sporting event that can’t be matched.

So, let’s buckle up and get ready to dive into the world of the top 10 craziest sports fans of all time.

Related: 7 Crazy Stories Of Celebrities Who Were Killed By Their Fans

10 The Hooligan

Soccer Hooligans In Russia Are Trained, Organized, And Violent: The Most Feared Fans (HBO)

The hooligan fan is the wild child of the sports world, commonly found at football matches (or soccer, if you prefer). They take their love for the game to a new level—a level involving fist fights, vandalism, and general mayhem.

Hooligans often have a distinctive look about them. They might wear scarves or hats with their team’s crest or emblem, but they’ll also have tattoos or piercings that display their allegiance more permanently. They may even have nicknames for themselves or their group, like “The Firm” or “Ultras,” that they chant in unison during matches.

Now, before you go thinking that all football fans are hooligans, let me set the record straight. They’re a small but vocal minority in the football world. Most fans are harmless and enjoy cheering on their team in a friendly and spirited way. But if you do happen to spot a hooligan fan, my advice is to steer clear—unless you’re looking for a brawl, that is.

9 The Superfan

Superfans: The Tribalism of Sports | Annals of Obsession | The New Yorker

Move over, casual sports fans; it’s time to meet the superfan. They take their love for their team to another level that can only be described as obsessive.

I guarantee these guys are decked out head to toe in their team’s colors. They might wear a jersey with their favorite player’s name, but they’ll also have a matching hat, socks, and shoes to complete the look. They’ll also have a collection of team memorabilia that would make a museum curator jealous, from signed jerseys to game-worn equipment.

Superfans often have a wealth of knowledge about their team that borders on encyclopedic. They can recite the stats of every player on the roster, name the starting lineup for any game, and even give you a play-by-play breakdown of a game from memory.

And don’t even get me started on their dedication. Superfans will go to great lengths to show their support for their team. They’ll camp out overnight to get tickets to a big game, travel across the country (or even the world) to see their team play, and endure all kinds of weather just to glimpse their favorite player.

But despite their fanaticism, superfans are pretty harmless. They just love their team and want to show it in the most extravagant way possible.


8 The Wild Card

Bobby Wagner tackles fan on the field (fan angles)

Ah, the “wild card.” The enigma of the sports world. These fans can’t be classified as die-hard or casual but fall somewhere in between. They can be unpredictable, eccentric, and even downright crazy at times.

They’ll show up at a game or event wearing a mish-mash of different team gear. They might have a hat from one team, a t-shirt from another, and a foam finger from another. They don’t care who’s playing—they’re in love with the game just for the game’s sake.

But be warned: They’re known for their unpredictable behavior, ranging from mildly annoying to terrifying. They might streak across the field or climb onto the dugout during a game.

Their potential for unpredictability and recklessness can make them a liability for sports events. If left unchecked, their behavior can quickly escalate into chaos, leading to harm for themselves and others. That’s why many stadiums and arenas have strict rules and regulations in place to control these folks.

7 The Bandwagon Fan

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The “bandwagon” fan is the fair-weather friend of the sports world. They jump on the winning team’s bandwagon when times are good but disappear when the team starts losing. They’re like chameleons, changing their colors to blend in with the crowd.

So, how do you spot a bandwagon fan? Well, they’re the ones who suddenly start wearing a team’s gear after they start winning. They might have never shown any interest in the team before, but they’re suddenly the biggest fans. They’re like a herd of sheep, following the flock without any real loyalty or commitment.

But why are bandwagon fans considered crazy? Because they’re not really fans at all. They’re just looking for a way to fit in or to be associated with a winning team. They don’t understand the dedication, passion, and love that true fans have for their teams, win or lose.

Their fickleness and lack of commitment can be frustrating for anyone who’s been supporting their team through thick and thin.


6 The Stalker

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This is the most extreme type of sports fan out there. Stalker fans take their love of their favorite athlete or team to the next level—and beyond. They’re like a stage-5 clinger, unable to let go and move on.

So, how do you spot a sports stalker? They seem to know everything about the athlete or team they’re obsessed with. They might have posters of them all over their room, know their stats inside and out, and follow them on every social media platform.

Stalker fans can go to extreme lengths to get close to the object of their obsession, including breaking into their homes, stalking them on social media, and even physically assaulting them. A great example is the fan who broke into Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova’s home in 2014 (literally swimming to the property).

Their obsession can also create a toxic environment for the athlete or team, as stalker fans can become overly possessive and defensive of their beloved athlete or team. They might lash out at anyone criticizing them or even attack other fans they see as competition for their idol’s attention.

5 The Conspiracy Nut

Top 5 Sports Conspiracy Theorists | Conspiracy Thursday

The sports world has its own version of The X-Files. See, conspiracy fans see a secret plot behind every loss, bad call, and player injury. They’re always looking for hidden meanings and secret agendas.

These fans quickly blame a loss on something other than just bad luck or poor performance. They might believe that the referees are biased against their team, the league is rigging games to favor certain teams, or the players are using secret cameras to steal signs during games.

Conspiracy fans can go to extreme lengths to prove their theories, including harassing players, coaches, and referees and even threatening violence against them.

It’s easy for these folks to become overly paranoid and mistrustful of everyone involved in the game. They might accuse innocent players, coaches, or referees of being involved in a secret plot, damaging their reputation and potentially ruining their careers. Prime example? #deflategate.


4 The Cursed Fan

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Do you believe the Patriots are cursed now that all their well-known players have walked? Did you buy into the theory behind the Red Sox’s 86-year dry spell? The “cursed” fan is convinced that their team is cursed, doomed to lose no matter what. They’re like a dark cloud hanging over the stadium, spreading their negative energy to anyone within earshot.

These fans quickly blame a loss on something other than bad luck or poor performance. They might believe their team is cursed because of something that happened in the past, like a trade gone wrong or a missed opportunity to win the championship.

A cursed fan’s negative energy can infect other fans and players, making it difficult to shake off a losing streak. Their pessimism can bring down morale and create a sense of defeatism among the players. Their obsession with the curse can also lead to extreme behavior, such as burning team merchandise or physically attacking other fans who they blame for the curse.

3 The Overzealous Parent

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Go back to the bleachers, Karen! Overzealous parent fans are the moms and dads who take their child’s sports games a little too seriously, putting pressure on their child to perform and becoming overly invested in their child’s success on the field.

So, what makes the overzealous parent fan so crazy and dangerous? Well, for starters, they can become incredibly intense during games. They might shout at the referee, criticize their child’s teammates, or even physically confront opposing players, parents, and coaches.

These fans might push their child too hard, making them feel like they must win at all costs, or criticize them harshly for making mistakes. This can lead the child to burnout, low self-esteem, and injuries from overuse or pushing themselves too hard.


2 The Violent Fan

Fans fight at the San Jose Sharks vs Nashville Predators game March 5, 2022

You can spot a violent fan from a mile away—they’re the ones who are constantly throwing stuff onto the field, picking fights with opposing fans, and generally being a nuisance. They don’t care who they hurt as long as their team comes out on top.

What makes these fans so dangerous is their complete disregard for the safety of others. They’re like a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off, and things can get pretty ugly when they do. From brawls in the stands to all-out street riots, violent fans are a force to be reckoned with.

And it’s not just other fans who are at risk—players and even innocent bystanders can also get caught in the crossfire. All it takes is one violent fan to ruin the game for everyone else and cause irreparable damage to the team’s reputation.

1 The Fanatical Nationalist

Racist chanting directed at England U21 players during Serbia match

Imagine a fan who takes their love for their team to the extreme, turning sports events into a political battleground where they promote their extremist agenda. That’s a fanatical nationalist in a nutshell. They don’t just root for their team; they also use games as a platform to express their radical views in a violent and racist way.

These fans dress in nationalistic colors, wave flags with extremist messages, and chant offensive slogans. They’ll start riots, hurl racial slurs, and display offensive banners or symbols without batting an eye.

What makes these fans crazy and dangerous is their tendency to incite violence and promote hate speech. They’re the ones who make other fans and players feel unsafe by creating a hostile environment that’s rife with aggression and hostility.

You can spot fanatical nationalist fans by their extreme behavior, offensive banners, and symbols that promote hate speech. They’re the ones who make even the most die-hard fans take a step back and wonder what kind of craziness they’re dealing with. Remember the Serbian fans who screamed racist and nationalist slogans at England? Those are fanatical nationalist fans that can take sports events to a whole new level of insanity.

fact checked by Rachel Jones

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