Sports fans' banners deemed an "art form" by professor

Banners displayed by sports fans up and down the country during matches have been deemed as an "art form".

Loughborough University professor Dr Jamie Cleland has claimed that banners and chants show the wit and creativity of supporters.

"They show the unique creativity of fans in standing out from, while appealing to, a crowd," Cleland said to mark the launch of 'The Art of Banner Banter', a touring exhibition of fan banners organised by whiskey brand Tullamore D.E.W.

Banners from a Russia vs. USA rugby clash in 2011 read, "We won the space race", while most recently, a banner displayed by Chelsea football fans said, "Rafa Benitez we're just not that in-ter-im."