Abstract: Using the 142 articles on sports violence from CNKI (1987-2016) as data source, the present paper analyses the research focus, evolution and trend of sports violence through knowledge mapping. The results indicate that: the research focus of sports violence mainly include the field spectator violence in the field, athletes' aggression, football hooliganism, fans' turbulence and deviant behaviors; sports violence research has evolved from theoretical research of concept definitions and classifications to causes, influencing factors, coping strategies, and even to the historical origin and legal regulations; future research should discuss relevant issues from integrated perspective, explore the psychological mechanism behind sports violence through qualitative research and mathematical models, step up moral constraint on fan's behaviors, improve the law and regulation system, and strengthen the intervention of legal means into sports violence.

Key words: sports violence, spectator violence in the field, athletes, aggression, knowledge mapping, sports morality, development trend