AbstractSpectators were interviewed immediately following two football games to examine mechanisms of rationalization used by fans when their team loses. After both games fans of the losing team, in comparison with supporters of the winning team and nonpartisan spectators, were more likely to judge that their team received fewer “free kicks” (i.e. beneficial penalties) than their opponents, to believe that the outcome was attributable to external factors (luck or poor umpiring), and to “see” dirty play, initiated in particular by the opposing team. There was also a tendency, significant for one game, slight for the other, for losing fans to give lower ratings of the umpire and to give lower ratings of the standard of the game than fans of the winner. Differences between losers' reactions at the two games were related to the narrow margin of defeat at one, the wide margin at the other. The findings were discussed in terms of the reference group function that accompanies allegiance to a sporting team as well as mechanisms used to protect group reputation and, by extension, individual feelings of esteem when they are subjected to