Ultras


Ultras are a type of association football fans who are renowned for their fanatical support. The term originated in Italy but it is used worldwide to describe predominantly organised fans of association football teams. The behavioural tendency of ultras groups includes their use of flares, vocal support in large groups and the displaying of banners at football stadiums, all of which are designed to create an atmosphere which encourages their own team and intimidates the opposing players and their supporters. The frequent use of elaborate displays in stadiums is also common.
The actions of ultras groups are occasionally extreme and they may be influenced by political ideologies such as conservatism, socialism, or views on racism, which range from avowedly nationalist to anti-fascist. In some instances, this goes to the point where the passionate and loyal support of one's team becomes secondary to the theoretical ideology of the ultras phenomenon. In recent decades, the culture has become a focal point for the movement against the commercialisation of sports and football in particular.

History

The origin of the ultras movement is disputed, with many supporters groups from various countries making claims solely on the basis of their dates of foundation. The level of dispute and confusion is aided by a contemporary tendency to categorise all groups of overtly fanatical supporters as ultras. Supporters groups of a nature comparable to the ultras have been present in Brazil since 1939, when the first torcida organizada was formed. Inspired by the torcidas and the colourful scenes of the 1950 World Cup, supporters of Hajduk Split formed Torcida Split on 28 October 1950. The group is often cited as the oldest torcida style group in Europe. But the first supporters' groups in the world formed to produce violence were barras bravas, originated in Argentina in the 1950s.
One country closely associated with the ultras movement is Italy. The first Italian ultras groups were formed in 1951, including the Fedelissimi Granata of Torino. The 1960s saw the continuing spread and development of the culture with the formation of the Fossa dei Leoni and Boys San groups, the former often regarded in Italy as the first full-fledged ultras group. The term ultras was used as a name for the first time in 1969 when supporters of Sampdoria formed the Ultras Tito Cucchiaroni and fans of Torino formed the Ultras Granata. The style of support that would become synonymous with Italian football developed most during the 1970s as more groups formed including the radical S.S. Lazio Ultras in 1974 with a strong predominance of fascist slogans and chants amongst other groups such as Hellas Verona supporters. The active support of the ultras became more apparent, in contrast with the "traditional" culture, choreographic displays, signature banners and symbols, giant flags, drums and fireworks became the norm as groups aimed to take their support to higher levels. The decade also saw the violence and unrest of Italian society at the time overlap with the ultras movement, adding a dimension that has plagued it ever since. The ultras movement spread across Europe, Australia, Asia and North Africa during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, starting with the countries geographically closest to Italy.

Europe

United Kingdom

are an ultras group that follow Celtic F.C. and regularly make tifo displays and often voice support for a United Ireland and Free Palestine.
On the other side of Glasgow are the Rangers F.C ultra group The Union Bears. In England there are ultras groups at Crystal Palace F.C. Leicester City F.C and Huddersfield Town F.C. Several Non-League football teams in England have ultras groups that are left-wing, anti-fascist, anti-racist and anti-sexist such as the fans of Dulwich Hamlet F.C. that have a group called the ComFast Chapter who are openly communist. A Vice article claims the anti-communists Casuals United is at war with anti-fascist football ultras and have come into conflict with the Clapton Ultras and had already caused the disbandment of the anti-EDL Inter Village Firm that followed Mangotsfield United.

Hungary

Hungarian ultras usually sit in B central. The national team's ultras name the Carpathian Brigade. Many clubs have large number of ultras like Ferencváros, Újpest, Diósgyőr, Honvéd, Fehérvár and Debrecen.

Portugal

StadiumClubName
Estádio do DragãoFC Porto- Super Dragões
- Colectivo Ultras 95
Estádio do BessaBoavista FC- Panteras Negras
Estádio da LuzSL Benfica- Diabos Vermelhos
- No Name Boys
Estádio José AlvaladeSporting CP- Juventude Leonina
- Torcida Verde
- Directivo Ultras XXI
- Brigada Ultras Sporting
Estádio D. Afonso HenriquesVitória SC- White Angels

Denmark

Ultra group caused a 14-minute delay in the 2020 Danish Cup final for a failure to adhere to COVID-19 social distancing rules. The group was ultimately ejected from the stadium and the game resumed, which was won by SønderjyskE.

Italy

In Italy, most professional soccer teams have an ultra group which attend every match and have dedicated seating areas in either the north or south end of the stadium behind the goals. Each ultra will have 1 or more leaders who choreograph chants throughout the match and will hand out banners and flags to other people in the stand to wave throughout the match. Ultras have been credited as to creating fantastic atmospheres inside of the stadium, however have also come under universal criticism with their ties to various gangs and the mafia, as well as causing violence which often takes place outside the stadium prior to a match. Over the years, inappropriate chanting have resulted in the FIGC to issue partial or full stadium bans to clubs. The ultras will choreograph a wide range of chants throughout a match, but some of the most common chants that result in a ban are anti-Southern chants towards clubs who locate in the South of Italy, most notably towards Napoli, as well as racist chants towards opposition players.

Africa

Algeria

Morocco

Egypt

The clubs in Egypt became a major political force during the uprising against Mubarak in 2011, but were known for long-standing animosity with the police. When 38 members of the Ultras Devils were arrested in Shebeen al-Kom for "belonging to an illegal group" plus additional violent offences, it was seen as a crackdown on the organisations by authorities. Ultras in Turkey have also played a role in the 2013 protests in Turkey, with fans of arch-rivals Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Besiktas shielding protesters and allying against police violence. Police responded with raids in the Besiktas neighbourhood, the main breeding ground of ultras of the Beşiktaş club, the Carsi Group.
In 2013, the Associated Press stated that the Egyptian Ultras network was one of the most organised movements in Egypt after the Muslim Brotherhood.
StadiumClubName
Cairo International StadiumAl Ahly SC- Ultras Ahlawy
- Ultras Devils
Cairo International StadiumZamalek SC- Ultras White Knights
Port Said StadiumAl-Masry SC- Ultras Green Eagles
Suez StadiumSuez Montakhab- Ultras Suez Fedyan
Ghazl El Mahalla StadiumGhazl El Mahalla SC- Ultras Whales 2008
Ismailia StadiumIsmaily SC- Ultras Yellow Dragons
- Ultras Rebels
Alexandria StadiumAl Ittihad Alexandria Club- Ultras Green Magic

Tunisia

Asia

Lebanon

The ultras scene was introduced to Lebanon in February 2018, with Nejmeh's "Ultras Supernova". Their rivals Ansar quickly followed with their own ultras group, "I Tifosi", one month later. Ahed formed their own ultras group, called "Ultras Yellow Inferno", the same year. Prior to the Arab Club Champions Cup game between Nejmeh and Al-Ahly of Egypt, played on 13 August 2018, seven “Ultras Supernova” fans were arrested by the Egyptian national security because of the negative connotations the word “Ultras” has in Egypt. The fans have been returned to Lebanon by request of the Lebanese Ambassador to Cairo.

India

is the football match between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. The rivalry between these two teams is almost 100 years old, and features in the FIFA's classic derby list. The matches witness large audience attendance and rivalry between patrons. It is considered to be one of, if not the biggest Asian footballing rivalry.The most memorable derby on many accounts took place in 1997 at the semi-final of the Federation Cup, when a remarkable crowd of 131,000 – a record attendance for any sport in India – filled a heaving Salt Lake Stadium.
The Ultras scene in India was introduced by East Bengal Ultras, the Ultras group of East Bengal F.C. in 2013 and since then it grew slowly as Ultras groups of various clubs started to form and display of "Tifo's" and "Pyro" shows became very much a part of the Ultras scene in Indian football.
The most supported club In India Kerala Blasters FC has its supporters group called Manjappada .They were founded in 2014 and became ultras in 2018.During their home matches at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium the whole stadium will be covered in yellow colours which is the home jersey of the team.
Highlander Brigade, the biggest supporters' club of Northeast United FC is also growing in numbers. With intimidating large sized tifos and non stop chanting, they've made their presence felt in the stands. Formed in 2017, they are quickly developing the Ultras scene in the Northeastern part of the country. During home games at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, their typical routine begins with a march to the stadium, followed by the display of tifos and banners before the start of the game and then 90 mins of intense chanting with megaphones and drums while waving flags of red, black and white.
Blue Pilgrims is an organised group of football fans who support the India national football men's team, women's team, and all the other age–group national teams at every home and away game formed by a group of football fans of several club fan bases of football clubs from India. Founded in 2017 before the commencement of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which was held in India, the group based their name on the nickname of the national team, the "Blue Tigers". They consider travelling with the national teams to wherever the teams play as their pilgrimage. They often display flags, banners, and tifos in support of the national team.
StadiumClubName
Salt Lake Stadium, KolkataEast Bengal F.C.East Bengal Ultras
Salt Lake Stadium, KolkataEast Bengal F.C.East Bengal the Real Power
Salt Lake Stadium, KolkataMohun Bagan A.C.Mariners’ Base Camp
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Kerala Blasters FCManjappada
Kalinga StadiumOdisha FCThe Juggernauts
Sree Kanteerava StadiumBengaluru FCWest Block Blues
Indira Gandhi Athletic StadiumNortheast United FCHighlander Brigade

North America

United States

Characteristics

Ultras groups are usually centred on a core group of founders or leaders, with smaller subgroups organised by location, friendship or political stance. Ultras tend to use various styles and sizes of banners and flags bearing the name and symbols of their group. Some ultras groups sell their own merchandise to raise funds for performing displays. An ultras group can number from a handful of fans to hundreds or thousands, with larger groups often claiming entire sections of a stadium for themselves. Ultras groups often have a representative who liaises with the club owners on a regular basis, mostly regarding tickets, seat allocations and storage facilities. Some clubs provide groups with cheaper tickets, storage rooms for flags and banners and early access to the stadium before matches in order to prepare displays. These types of favoured relationships are often criticised when ultras groups abuse their power.

Hooliganism

While ultras groups can become violent, the majority of matches attended by ultras conclude with no violent incidents. Unlike hooligan firms, whose main aim is to fight hooligans of other clubs, the main focus of ultras is generally to support their own team. Some hooligans try to be inconspicuous when they travel; usually not wearing team colours, in order to avoid detection by the police. Within the ultra or hooligan culture however, those dressing to "blend in" would be referred to as casuals, which is viewed by some as a branch of hooliganism, yet still maintaining its own independence and culture. Ultras tend to be more conspicuous when they travel, proudly displaying their scarves and club colours while arriving en masse, which allows the police to keep a close eye on their movements.