ECMI Minorities Blog. Ethnic Identity and Football in Mostar – A Clear Divide along the Old Front Line

Ethnic identities and societal divisions in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, are prominently expressed through football, particularly along the lines of its two main clubs, FK Velež Mostar and HŠK Zrinjski Mostar. This division mirrors the geographical fault lines of the ethnic conflict from the early 1990s, with street murals and graffiti serving as visible markers of this split. The study integrates insights from sociolinguistics and sports identity literature to analyze how linguistic landscapes and territorial divisions intersect in post-conflict urban spaces. By examining the spatial distribution of football-related symbolism, the research highlights the enduring impact of historical conflicts on contemporary social dynamics.

Willis, C. (2023). ECMI Minorities Blog. Ethnic Identity and Football in Mostar – A Clear Divide along the Old Front Line (, Ed.). European Centre for Minority Issues. https://doi.org/10.53779/sklp2233