Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
AI Reveals Stereotypical Football Fan Depictions for Top UK Clubs
Artificial intelligence has generated images depicting stereotypical football fans of prominent UK clubs, sparking debate among supporters. The AI’s interpretations, based on perceived fan clichés, have offered a stark and sometimes humorous look at how different fanbases are viewed. This exercise in football stereotypes, visualized by AI fan depictions, has quickly become a talking point amongst UK football fans.
West Ham Supporters: The ‘Heavyset’ Publican
West Ham fans arguably received the most pointed portrayal. The AI generated an image of a significantly overweight man, estimated to be over 300lbs, standing outside a public house. He is wearing a West Ham jersey that appears strained, seemingly struggling to accommodate his large physique. This AI stereotype has drawn strong reactions from East London faithful, though the depicted fan does appear cheerful, possibly before a less-than-stellar performance at the London Stadium.
North London Contrasts: Arsenal ‘Hipster’ vs. Chelsea ‘Fashionista’
In North London, the Arsenal fan stereotype leans towards the ‘hipster’ image. The AI depicts an individual with a man bun, scarf, and a penchant for lattes, embodying a mid-2010s trend. Conversely, the Chelsea supporter stereotype reflects West London’s affluence. Adorned with gold jewelry, the Chelsea fan is styled as a fashion-conscious individual, seemingly dressed from an expensive boutique. The stark contrast highlights perceived differences between the fanbases.
An AI has produced an image of the most stereotypical fan of several of the UK biggest football clubs
Arsenal and Chelsea fans have been given vastly different treatments by the AI, with the money of west London playing a key factor in the image generated of the Blues fan
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Northern Fan Similarities: Manchester United & Newcastle ‘Gutsy’ Stereotypes
Manchester United fans and Newcastle fans share a surprisingly similar AI generated stereotype with West Ham. The AI depicted fans of both clubs with a noticeable gut, suggesting a common perception of supporters from these teams. However, the Manchester United fan is also shown with receding hair, while the Newcastle supporter stereotype is placed outside “nondescript corporate spaces” rather than pubs. This latter point has been contested by Newcastle fans, given the abundance of pubs around St James’ Park.
Manchester United and Newcastle fans have been given a remarkably similar treatment to Hammers supporters, with a AI fan that boasts an impressive gut
Age and Affiliation: Chelsea and Liverpool Fan Depictions
The Chelsea fan depiction, seemingly in his early 40s, is portrayed as older than the Arsenal fan but younger than the West Ham and Manchester United stereotypes. This has prompted questions about whether the AI is subtly referencing the influx of new Chelsea fans following Roman Abramovich’s ownership. The Liverpool supporter stereotype, in contrast, is depicted as the youngest amongst the group. The AI generated image presents a young, tracksuit-wearing individual with long hair, fitting a ‘scally’ stereotype. However, the backdrop of bins in a seemingly deprived area has been viewed by some as overly critical.
The Magpies faithful are apparently commonly spotted outside nondescript corporate spaces, rather than drinking establishments
A fresh-faced, long-haired, tracksuit-wearing scally certainly ticks a lot of the stereotypical boxes for a Liverpool fan
More Favorable Fan Stereotypes: Aston Villa, Sheffield United, and Leeds
Fans of Aston Villa, Sheffield United, and Leeds United arguably received the most flattering AI fan stereotypes. The Aston Villa fan depiction is smiling broadly, arms outstretched, in front of a modest but respectable house. The Sheffield United supporter stereotype, depicted as younger, mirrors the pose against a South Yorkshire street scene. The Leeds fan stereotype appears ready for a confrontation, a possibly intentional, albeit understated, commentary.
Aston Villa, Sheffield United and Leeds fans can rejoice because they have received the most generous of depictions
Tottenham & Celtic: Concluding Stereotypes
The Tottenham fan stereotype is portrayed taking a selfie while holding a vegetable smoothie, a depiction some might interpret as subtly critical. Finally, the Celtic fan stereotype is shown jubilant outside a pub, prominently displaying club merchandise. This final image, like others, may reflect the AI gleaning information from vast amounts of online images and videos to form its conclusions about football fan stereotypes across the UK.
The Celtic fan is shown in raptures, in front of a pub, of course, with the greatest visible signifiers of the club he supports