Football (sports fandom in general) is one of the few spaces where manly men have a safe space to express all their emotions in a supportive group setting: anger, hate, joy, sadness, love, enthusiasm, and so on.

Men are often sanctioned by women when they show weakness. So this is a very important psychological, social, and therapeutic space for men. It’s an outlet for suppressed emotions, which is healthy.

You might think it’s silly, but it’s a good and healthy institution and custom.