Aggression and violence in sport: An ISSP position stand

Aggression has long been a part of the sport domain. Indeed, Russell (1993, p. 191) suggests that outside of wartime, sports is perhaps the only setting in which acts in interpersonal aggression are not only tolerated but enthusiastically applauded by large segments of society. In recent years, however, violence in sport, both on and off the field, has come to be perceived as a social problem. For instance, commissions have been appointed in Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia to investigate violence in the athletic setting (National Committee on Violence, 1989; Pipe, 1993). In the United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, and Australia, court cases have been heard concerning the sport-related victims or perpetrators of aggressive acts.