Football’s new fans: Girls on terraces

Research on fans watching on TV suggests about 40 per cent of viewers in Britain and Spain are women. “Why do I like football? I can’t explain it, it’s just a passion,” said Spanish fan Rosana Maicas, 20.

The overhaul of European Stadiums has also helped attract more women fans. A few years ago fans at major stadiums in many European nations would face standing room only on packed concrete terraces, food outlets selling grease soaked hamburgers.

Supporters would run the risk of hooligan violence and endure foul-smelling toilets-if there were any at all for women.

Now a new generation of stadiums, like the architectural showpieces built around Portugal for Euro 2004, have comfortable seating, a range of catering outlets and proper restrooms for both sexes. Better security means hooliganism has largely been banished from the stadiums.

“The new stadiums are much more conformable, there are more conditions for women now,” said soccer writer Santos.

“Now I can go to any stadium without worrying if I’m going to find a bathroom…That’s a big factor.”

Ruohong Zhang and her friend Xuan Xu travelled from Beijing to watch their soccer idols-Spain’s Raul and Portugal’s Rui Costa-in Lisbon. “I’ve liked it for a long time, I can’t really say why, it’s just so exciting,” she said. She said some European teams drew more female support than others.

“For Italy, it’s mainly women,” she said. “Because the Italian players are so good-looking.”