Mendeley TY _ JOUR ID - 1404022350234 TI - Satellite Broadcasting and Psychological Operation Techniques in Public Opinion Control within Football JO - Research of deviance and social problems JA - ES LA - fa SN - 3060-821X AU - Radmehr Roozbeh AD - ندارم Y1 - 2025 PY - 2025 VL - 14 IS - SP - 95 EP - 126 KW - Psychological Operations KW - Media KW - Public Opinion KW - Football KW - Tactics. DO - N2 -

Satellite Broadcasting and Psychological

Operation Techniques in Public Opinion

Control within Football

 

Roozbeh Radmehr*

 

This study aims to identify and analyze the latent and manifest dimensions of psychological operation tactics employed in football-related programming by Persian-language satellite networks, particularly the Manoto network, to influence public opinion among football fans. Given football’s profound cultural, social, psychological, and political impact in Iranian society, and the increasing influence of transnational media offering Persian-language sports content, analyzing the psychological strategies of these media is of significant importance.

 

Keywords: Psychological Operations, Media, Public Opinion, Football, Tactics.

 

Introduction

Football, as Iran’s most popular cultural-sporting phenomenon, provides a broad platform for expressing and channeling collective emotions. Beyond its role as entertainment and a source of social joy, football has become a potent tool for political messaging, media propaganda, and even social destabilization in targeted societies. Major football events, such as national matches or local derbies, often serve as arenas for reflecting political inclinations, social tensions, and, at times, emotionally charged or protest-driven collective actions. Consequently, Persian-language satellite networks have leveraged football’s widespread appeal to conduct psychological operations aimed at shaping public sentiment. This research is grounded in two prominent communication theories: Agenda-Setting Theory (McCombs & Shaw, 1972) and Framing Theory (Entman, 1993). Agenda-Setting Theory posits that media influence audience priorities by selectively emphasizing certain issues, determining what the public thinks about. Framing Theory extends this concept, arguing that media not only select topics but also shape how audiences interpret them by constructing specific narratives. Rooted in Goffman’s (1974) sociological work, framing theory highlights the media’s role in meaning-making, interpretation, and internalization of messages. From this perspective, football programs on satellite broadcasting like Manoto are not merely informational or analytical but serve as deliberate psychological interventions designed to steer the perceptions and emotions of football fans.

 

Methodology

This study adopts a qualitative approach, utilizing thematic analysis as its analytical strategy. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 experts in sports journalism, purposefully selected from senior editors, editorial coordinators, and veteran journalists affiliated with prominent Iranian sports media outlets, including Abrar Varzeshi, Esteghlal Javan, Iran Varzeshi, Persepolis, and Khabar Varzeshi. Selection criteria included professional experience, media expertise in football, relevant academic qualifications, and familiarity with international media dynamics. Interviews were conducted with informed consent, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step thematic analysis method.

 

Findings

Thematic analysis identified five primary categories of psychological operation tactics frequently employed in Manoto’s football programs, particularly Offside and Rakhtekhan: targeted relationship-building, cognitive confusion, strategic exposés, fear appeals, and message repetition.

  1. Targeted Relationship-Building: This tactic involves media positioning themselves as intermediaries between fans and clubs to gain audience trust. Interviewees noted that fans are treated as loyal brand customers, with media exploiting perceived inefficiencies in official club communications. For instance, an editor from Esteghlal Javan remarked: “Satellite programs often invite fan leaders, creating a pseudo-emotional and organizational bond with fans. Though superficial, this fosters media loyalty.” This is achieved through featuring popular figures, informal dialogues, behind-the-scenes reports, and addressing fans’ concerns.
  2. Cognitive and Informational Confusion: This tactic disseminates contradictory information, rumors, and conflicting narratives to neutralize or redirect fan emotions toward disengagement. A coordinator from Khabar Varzeshi stated: “Rumors about an injured player’s return, sudden coaching changes, or financial disqualifications create cognitive disruption, leaving fans uncertain and emotionally subdued.”
  3. Planned Exposés: Strategic revelations about financial, ethical, or tactical issues provoke intense emotional reactions. These exposés can incite anger or protest but may also lead to disillusionment if targeting a fan’s own team. An interviewee noted: “Pre-match reports about federation corruption, regardless of accuracy, foster systemic mistrust, potentially reducing team support.”
  4. Fear Appeals and Threats: Common in high-stakes games, this tactic uses threatening messages or warnings about legal/security consequences to deter fan actions. A journalist from Iran Varzeshi explained: “Repeated warnings about closed-door matches or heavy fines make fans feel responsible for the team’s fate, discouraging protest.”
  5. Strategic Message Repetition: Repetition of specific messages or rumors across platforms internalizes them as truth. A Persepolis staff member noted: “Repeated claims of a club’s financial crisis, even if false, become accepted as reality by some fans.” This is enhanced by persuasive elements like celebrity guests, archival footage, or sensational headlines.

These tactics operate at four levels to control fan opinion:

The findings align with Agenda-Setting Theory, as media prioritize issues like financial crises or corruption to shape fan focus, and Framing Theory, as programs use frames like “team victimization” or “systemic corruption” to impose specific interpretations.

 

Discussion and Conclusion

The study concludes that Persian-language satellite media effectively use psychological operation tactics in football programming to influence fan emotions and public opinion. Addressing these tactics requires enhancing fans’ media literacy to bolster cognitive resilience. Strategies include educational policies, transparent club-fan communication, and proactive narrative-building by domestic media to counter these operations.

 

References

Jaitner, M. L. (2015) Russian Information Warfare: Lessons from Ukraine. In K. Geers (Ed.), Cyber War in Perspective: Russian Aggression Against Ukraine (pp. 39–47). Tallinn: NATO CCD COE Publications.

McQuail, D. (2006) Mass Communication Theory (P. Ejlali, Trans.). Tehran: Center for Media Studies and Development.[in Persian]

Mohammadzadeh, M. (2019) Psychological warfare techniques in the media. Audio-Visual Media Quarterly, (3). .[in Persian]

Rezaei, s. And Esmaeili, m. (2019) Broadcasting rights in the iranian football industry. Journal of sport management and development, 8(1), 86-101. Doi: 10.22124/jsmd.2019.3722.[in Persian]

Saeedi Kia, A. (2023) The role of media in sports events. Quarterly Journal of Rural Sports Development, Ministry of Sports and Youth, 2(2). .[in Persian]

Sedigh Sarvestani, M. (2012) Passive emotional discharge or active injection. Social Sciences Monthly, 4(3). .[in Persian]

Tankard, J., & Severin, W. (2010) Communication Theories (A. Dehghan, Trans.). Tehran: University of Tehran Press.

 

 

 

* M.A in Social Communication Sciences, Demand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damavand , Iran.

roozbehradmehr100@gmail.com

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