Boo
What does the football act “Boo” mean?
Why does the crowd yell “Boo” at matches?
Who are fans tend to boo?
Booing is an act of showing displeasure for someone or something, generally in response to an entertainer, by loudly yelling boo! and sustaining the “oo” sound by holding it out. People may also make hand signs at the entertainer, such as the thumbs down sign. If spectators particularly dislike the performance they may also accompany booing by throwing objects (historically rotten fruits and vegetables) on stage.
In sports, booing by fans is quite common. They may boo particularly-hated players on the opposing team, or any opposing player when there is an intense rivalry between the teams. Unsportsmanlike behavior is also booed, such as intentionally hitting home team batters in baseball or diving in association football or basketball (where it is a technical foul). Booing of referees or umpires after an unpopular ruling is also common. Booing of expelled players after receiving a second yellow card or a direct red card is also common for many reasons. In professional sports, one’s own home team, players or coach may be booed due to a poor performance or season.
Example:
Adam Goodes who played for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League was repeatedly and loudly booed by opposition fans during the 2015 AFL season at most of the matches whenever he touched the ball. During a match against Carlton, during the AFL’s annual Indigenous Round, after he kicked a goal, he celebrated the goal by provoking the Carlton fans by performing an Aboriginal war dance in which he mimed throwing a spear in their direction. Afterwards, Goodes claimed that the dance was based on the one he learned from the under-16s Indigenous team the Flying Boomerangs, and that it was intended as an expression of indigenous pride during Indigenous Round, not with the intention of offending and intimidating the crowd. The booing escalated after the war dance.