I may be being totally daft with this comment, but I just dont understand why fan groups feel the need to use their love of football and a particular team to try and push a political agenda. Why does any fan group need a political manifesto? Forgive me if I'm wrong but from what I understand, the "ultras" fans from left and right wing groups are associated with the worst of the football hooliganism across the world, right? Flares at games, violence in the stands, attacks on other fan groups pre and post game. Why would anyone want to associate with that?? Unless that is what the plan is?
To repeat from above:
I am not among the people who started T-AFC but I'm privy to their discussions and they are *certainly* not planning to taunt or fight other fans. One T-AFC founder said to me: "I would love to go to the football as a football person but even more as a group that also stands for things I believe in as well."
ok that's great.
But why can't the founder just go to the football and enjoy the football as a fan of the game. Why do they need to go with a group of politically like minded people.
Football fans are like minded - in that they are supporting the same team, who cares about your political persuasion? For me that is the beauty of the gmae, it brings people of all creeds, races political persuasions together supporting the same team and just for a moment forgetting who is left or right etc.
I'm also not part of this group or associated with them in any way, but I could take a guess that groups like this feel the issues they are raising are genuine crises, with people's lives at stake. They might believe that climate change will kill tens of thousands in our lifetime, as will anti-LGBT hatred, enormous inequality, genocide in Gaza and (perhaps to a lesser extent, but still significantly) regressive anti-Tiriti policies. If you believe that, and I know some people will disagree but I think most people in a place like Wellington would acknowledge there is at least some evidence for each of the above, then who cares whether it makes people uncomfortable to hear about it at the football. I don't say this to endorse the group in any way, I'm just trying to illustrate why mixing politics and sport might be good or necessary for people who believe these things.
I'm happy with all of the above to be openly discussed believed in and supported - but I'm also a massive believer in protesting/raising your issue/belief at the right moment. Getting it wrong is only going to alienate you from the people you want to bring along on your journey to whatever outcome you want. If it's support for your political beliefs I'd strongly recommend not bringing them to a football game. In NZ, in particular, sport and politcs do not mix well.