Most thieves wear Arsenal jerseys according to Malawian study
Most thieves wear Arsenal jerseys according to Malawian study – Former Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen, ignited a heated football debate after sharing an excerpt from a Malawian study exploring the connection between football fandom and criminal activity.
The study, titled “Jerseys of Crime: A Sociological Analysis of Football Fan Affiliation and Thievery in Malawi,” comes from John Hatman’s undated study.
It investigates a recurring pattern in which many individuals arr€sted for theft and other crimes are found wearing football jerseys—particularly those of Arsenal.
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“While recognizing instances involving jerseys of other teams, this research delves into the possible link between football fandom and criminal activity on a broader scale. Through an interdisciplinary approach incorporating sociology, criminology, and psychology, we aim to identify patterns, motivations, and determine whether this phenomenon is unique to Arsenal fans or indicative of a wider trend,” the study’s abstract states.
Adding to the discussion, the study references an incident in Uganda last year, where police arrested eight Arsenal supporters for staging an unauthorized victory parade in Jinja after their team’s dramatic 3-2 win over Manchester United.
The celebration, which disrupted traffic for nearly two hours, led to police intervention. While seven fans were later released with warnings, one, Dennis Waahe, remained in custody due to an outstanding warrant for allegedly embezzling UGX 180 million from Iganga district six months earlier.
Authorities clarified that Waahe’s arrest was unrelated to his football allegiance, dismissing claims that he was targeted for being an Arsenal fan. Meanwhile, Arsenal fan leader Felix Bagiire assured that if Arsenal wins the Premier League, they will coordinate with law enforcement to organize lawful celebrations.
Murkomen’s post has since sparked intense debate, with football enthusiasts and academics questioning whether the connection between Arsenal jerseys and crime is a genuine social trend or merely a coincidence.
