Ultra movement

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ultras with pyrotechnics in Bulgaria

The ultra movement originally referred to a special form of organization for fanatical supporters of a football team . In the meantime there are also ultra groups in other sports. As a rule, they feel like the core of the respective fan base. Most ultra groups have representatives who communicate on behalf of the group with the supported club, for example to organize storage rooms for flags or tickets for away games.

The Ultras are a heterogeneous movement. Nationally and between the respective scenes they differ partly in terms of age structure, type of support, political convictions and acceptance of violence. The participation of ultras in the Arab Spring and the protests in Turkey in 2013 caused an international stir .

activities

Ultras are fanatical supporters whose goal is to "support their association as best as possible, always and everywhere".

In addition to the acoustic support, which is very often coordinated by a so-called capo (from Italian il capo for head or leader) using a megaphone and accompanied by drums, ultras also attach great importance to optical aids such as confetti rain , Bengali fires and flags . In addition, the Ultras create, finance and organize colored choreographies . In these choreographies, the ultras prepare materials that are given out to all spectators (including non-ultras) in a stadium area at the start of the game. B. result in a large club coat of arms. Roll flags or throwing rollers are also often used. Support from sponsors or clubs is strictly rejected. Ultras are mostly financed by their own membership fees and by selling their own fan articles.

Ultras are usually more critical of the club's management than other fans. For them, issues such as maintaining the fan culture and identity are often in conflict with decisions made by the club's managers who rate the ultras as economically motivated or criticize them as “ commercializing sport”.

Another important topic is the protest against the arbitrariness and “ repression ” perceived by the police and stewards against football fans of all stripes, often with chants such as B. "All Cops Are Bastards - ACAB !" Or in Germany with "Football fans are not criminals". Especially with this topic there is a lot of cohesion between ultra-groupings of actually rival clubs. In the spring of 2008 several groups expressed their solidarity with the Ultras Gelsenkirchen . A few game days earlier, the data of 190 people had been recorded during a large-scale police operation at a Schalke fan meeting point. Protest actions are also directed against the stadium bans , which are often unjustified according to the ultras .

Ultra groups have taken a stand in political conflicts. The Ultras Al-Ahlawy of the Egyptian association al Ahly Cairo , the Ultras White Knights of Zamalek SC and other ultra groups participated in the 2011 revolution in Egypt . They appeared in defense of the Tahrir Square insurgents to the police. In addition, they also took part in maintaining the infrastructure of the occupied spaces and in graffiti. In February 2012, fans and the Ultras Al-Ahlawy were attacked after a soccer game, resulting in many deaths. It is believed that this attack was directed by opponents of the revolution.

Ultra groups from the Fenerbahçe Istanbul , Galatasaray Istanbul and Beşiktaş Istanbul clubs took part in the protests on Taksim Square in Istanbul .

In Ukraine, as part of the Euromaidan protests, ultra groups from various Premjer-Liha associations were actively involved in the (sometimes violent) actions.

However, many ultra groups act "non-political" in the sense that they limit themselves to sports politics as well as politics that have a direct impact on fan culture.

Many ultra groups maintain friendships with groups of other clubs and often support one another.

Group structure

Ultra groups are usually structured as follows:

  • Direttivo (Italian for board or management); The elected leaders of the ultra group. The number usually fluctuates between 2 and 10 members. As leaders, they represent the group to outsiders and determine the course of the ultra group. Often, but not always, the capo (lead singer) is part of the direttivo.
  • Membri (Italian for (regular) members): permanent members integrated into the group structures who often perform important tasks within the group (selling self-produced fan articles, writing the game day flyer or curve booklet, organizing the trips away, purchasing the choreography materials, etc.) .)
  • Membri Convogliatori (Italian for (sponsoring) members): Usually the first point of contact for those interested in joining the group. As a supporting member, you pay the group fee monthly or annually and are allowed to participate in various group activities, but they are not full members and are usually not allowed to choose the Direttivo.
  • Gruppo Juniores (Italian for junior research group): For young people who are below the minimum age for membership (usually under 16 or 18) and still want to participate in group life. Often they are accepted into the group when they reach the minimum age.

History of movement

The beginnings (1950 to 1960)

The ultra-movement has its roots in Italy in the early 1950s and 1960s, when “football madmen” first got together in groups to support their favorite teams in an organized manner. The name of the movement allegedly goes back to an Italian newspaper that AC Torino supporters called “Ultra” when they chased a referee to the airport after a 3-2 defeat. Ultra is a Latin word and in German means beyond .

Exactly which ultra-grouping was the first group cannot be precisely determined and is still hotly debated in the ultra-scene today.

The Ultras Fedelissimi Granata (founded 1951) from Turin and Ultras Sant Alberto from Genoa should definitely be among the first Ultras in Italy. Both came from important cities of the labor movement and took over the flags, drums, banners, megaphones and pyrotechnics of the demonstrations in those heated political times in Italy and brought them with them to the stadiums.

The Torcida 1950 also claimed the title of the first ultra grouping in Europe from the Hajduk Split association from Croatia , which, however, was founded on the model of the Brazilian Torcidas (see also section; similar subcultures) and only later turned to the ultra movement.

Establishment of the movement in Italy and development of the "ultra mentality" (1960s)

Based on the model from Genoa and Turin, ultra groups were founded nationwide, although in the beginning they looked more like normal supporters . The Fossa dei Leoni of AC Milan , which were founded in 1968 and whose mentality is modeled on several groups in Italy and around the world to this day , are considered to be the first group to issue their own manifesto and to fill the ultra-thought with life and rules .

According to the Fossas Manifesto, ultras should be autonomous from clubs, associations, police and other authorities and, in order to protect their independence, finance themselves through membership fees and donations.

In Greece, one of the first ultra groups outside Italy was founded in 1966 with Gate 13 of the Panathenaikos Athens club .

Highlights of the Ultras in Italy and Expansion of the Movement to Other Countries (1970s and 1980s)

From the 1970s onwards, the ultra movement developed more and more into a mass movement. Since the Italian state was struggling to maintain public order on the streets at that time and the political conflicts became more and more like civil war, the Ultras had a free hand in the stands and could develop undisturbed. Some groups reached membership numbers of more than 10,000 members.

Well-known groups of that time are the Fossa dei Leoni and the Granata Torino, the Black & White Fighters Storico 1977 ( Juventus Turin ), the Commando Ultras Napoli 1972 ( SSC Naples ), Boys SAN 1969 ( Inter Milan ), Collettivo Autonomo Viola ( AC Florence ), BNA Atalanta ( Atalanta Bergamo ), Brigate Gialloblu 1971 ( Hellas Verona ), Commando Ultra Curva Sud ( AS Roma ) and many more.

In 1975, the Biris Norte in Seville was the first ultra group in Spain. Soon the movement spread to Spain as well.

The first ultra grouping of Portugal, the Juventude Leonida of Sporting Lisbon, was also founded in 1976.

In Greece, too, the movement spread rapidly in the 1970s and well-known groups such as Gate 4 ( PAOK Saloniki ), Gate 7 ( Piraeus ) or Super 3 ( Aris Saloniki ) were founded.

In France, the first groups emerged in Marseille and Paris in the 1980s.

In German-speaking Fortuna Eagles Supporters were 1986, the first of Fortuna Cologne, two years later, was the first Austrian Ultra group Ultras Rapid 1988th

Spread in Europe and stagnation in Italy (1990s)

In Italy, the movement stagnated in the 1990s, as the Italian state cracked down on ultras and political wing fights between ultra groups broke out in the stands. The mafia, which is omnipresent in Italy, also tried to expand its influence on some ultra groups from that time on.

In Spain, too, the situation turned increasingly negative for the ultras, as from the late 1980s they mixed strongly with the culture of the skinheads and often adopted their political radicalism.

For the German, Austrian and Swiss scenes, the 1990s are considered the founding and experimental phase.

With the opening of the iron curtain, ultras also spread to Eastern European countries, with hooligan groups still having a greater influx here at least until the turn of the millennium.

Boom in Europe and beginnings outside Europe (2000s)

From the 2000s on, ultra groups grew explosively, especially in German-speaking countries, and the movement also grew in many other European countries.

Meanwhile, with the death of the policeman Filippo Raciti in 2007, the Italian movement came under severe pressure.

At the same time, many well-known ultra groups that had shaped the Italian ultra scene disbanded and there was a drastic decline in membership.

In North Africa, the first ultra groups were founded in Tunisia at the end of the 1990s. In the 2000s, ultra groups emerged for the first time in all of North Africa, in many countries in the Middle East, in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Thailand and a few other countries.

At first ridiculed and not taken seriously by European ultras, the ultra scenes there grew steadily.

Boom in non-European countries and recovery of the Italian scene (from 2010)

The Internet opened up new opportunities for the ultra-scenes to exchange ideas and compare them with one another. Youtube in particular became very popular in the ultra-scenes to view and often copy choreographies, pyroshows etc. from other countries or scenes. In North Africa in particular, the ultra scene has developed rapidly since the 2000s into a mass movement similar to that in Italy in the 1980s, in some cases with a strong political influence, as the events in Egypt in 2011 showed.

Meanwhile, the Italian ultra scene, which has been talked to death by many since 2007, recovered. But it lags behind its heyday in the 1980s, when the Italian ultra scene had more than 200,000 members.

Organized ultra-movement against the DFB in Germany (from 2017)

After the gap between the German ultra movement and the DFB widened, the ultra scene “Ultras Dynamo” symbolically declared war on the DFB in May 2017. Around 2,000 people from Dresden marched through Karlsruhe in army outfits, set off fireworks, stormed the stadium and held a banner that read “War on the DFB”. While the action of the Dresdeners was heavily criticized because of the martial appearance, more than 30 statements of other ultra scenes followed on the coming match day, which also declared war on the German Football Association.

In the 2000s, there were nationwide campaigns by the German ultra-movement. After the Pro15: 30 campaign , the fan demonstration for the Confederations Cup 2005 and the several years of collaboration under the label To preserve fan culture , the Dresden initiative 2017 was seen as a new start in networking in Germany. A large number of the ultra scenes (over 50 pieces) sought discussion in order to organize a joint protest. The meetings that took place even with mutually hostile scenes were extremely rare in Germany. The ultra scenes agreed on topics such as the clarification of the so-called summer fairy tale 2006 , the end of the game day dismemberment, kick-off times, abolition of collective penalties, an end to corruption, the preservation of the 50 + 1 rule, a transparency of the sports court and an end to eventing .

After these agreements, a similar protest against the association followed in the first DFB-Pokal main round in August 2017. 32 protests followed in 28 cup games. The pressure on the DFB became so great that the DFB announced in August 2017 that it would waive collective penalties until further notice and offered a "serious dialogue this time".

On November 9, 2017, the first dialogue between the association management and around 30 representatives of the ultra scenes took place. Both parties agreed on a consensus or an approximation of the regional league promotion regulations, kick-off times, permitted fan equipment and stadium bans.

On June 1, 2018, the DFB also introduced new kick-off times (Monday games) in the 3rd division, which moved the ultra scenes to terminate the dialogue. The second conversation took place just one day earlier, during which the DFB did not reveal anything about its plan to the fan scenes. Overall, the scenes rated the dialogue as having failed and criticized the fact that no improvements had occurred. You accuse the DFB of having used the dialogue only as a "media discussion opportunity".

Differentiation from hooligans

Ultras Hapoel Tel Aviv

While hooligans focus on violent confrontation with other groups and soccer games are often just one reason for doing so, ultras focus on sport; However, with some ultra groups, fights and riots are an accepted means of enforcing fan interests and dealing with opposing fan groups. For this reason, the ultras are often associated with 'hooligans' or with a willingness to use violence in the media and in the public eye. However, a large part of the German ultra scene emphasizes that one does not define oneself as 'seeking violence'. However, if you are physically assaulted, you should defend yourself accordingly. Many ultra groups in Germany also complain that the police are increasingly trying to attach a stigma of violence to them, since after the disintegration of the classic hooligan scene they now need a new field of activity in the context of football games.

The stealing of opposing fan paraphernalia, especially scarves and flags, can trigger fights. The fence flag is the heart of many groups; it represents the respective group and shows the presence, a loss thus represents a symbolic defeat and often results in the complete dissolution of the group.

The relationship between hooligans and ultras was difficult for a while, especially in Germany. At times there was real turf wars between the two subcultures in many cities. In the meantime, the ultras have emerged as the dominant subculture and many old hooligans have come to terms with the ultras. In recent times, a certain radicalism has been observed in some of the Ultras, which has been reported by fan researcher Dr. Mushroom is known as hooltras. These are ultras who see themselves as such, but sometimes act like hooligans. A well-known example of this is the now disbanded group 0231 Riot (Borussia Dortmund), which is considered by some to pave the way for this type.

Similar subcultures (Barra Brava and Torcida)

In Argentina the Barra Bravas and in Brazil the Torcidas emerged independently of the ultra movement, which originated in Italy .

The Barra Bravas were created in 1958 with the Barra La Guardia Imperial from Racing Club . Imitators of this barra quickly emerged all over Argentina.

The Barras have almost total control over club policy, especially in Argentina, and earn hundreds of thousands of euros every year from player transfers. Also through money laundering and drug trafficking, which is supported by corruption in the police and state apparatus.

Over the years, Barra Bravas have emerged in all of South America (except for most of Brazil) and in Central America, even if these do not reach the importance of the Argentine Barras.

The Torcidas in Brazil originated in the 1920s and 1930s and then spread throughout Brazil.

Unlike European ultra groups, the Torcidas are characterized by the fact that they accept almost everyone of any age, gender, skin color and so many groups have more than 20,000 (sometimes even 50,000) members. The members often identify more strongly with the Torcida than with the fan curve they are z. Partly share with other Torcidas, with whom they are even partially enemies. Because of this, each Torcida often sings her own fan songs.

Many torcida groups also have their own samba schools for the local carnival .

criticism

Criticism within the football fan scene

One point of criticism of the Ultras is that the given chants by the “Capo” mean that spontaneity, that is, the connection to the current game, is lost. This aspect and the fact that ultras are more inclined to chants than short battle cries do not lead to the intentional "pushing" of their own team.

In many fan scenes, the ultras play a dominant role simply because there are no other groups that could dispute their status. The resulting misunderstanding that the Ultras have a claim to sole representation of the curve and authority over the fan block repeatedly leads to conflicts between Ultras and unorganized fans. So there are occasionally disputes within a curve. This is often triggered by calls from people who demand that the ultras e.g. B. should keep the flags on the ground (because they block the view).

The allegation of violence and illicit pyrotechnics

Ultras are also criticized for physical attacks, the theft of fan material such as flags or scarves, or intimidation of non-ultras. In addition, ultras also receive criticism for the burning of pyrotechnics (fireworks, Bengal fires, etc.), which is prohibited in Germany because of the danger to bystanders who are not involved and is accordingly prosecuted. It happens, however, that fireworks are set off by “normal” fans who have no connection to the ultra movement, but this is attributed to the group.

Distribution in Europe

Italy

Choreography of Curva Nord by Inter Milan

The years with the largest number of members in the Italian ultra-movement were the 1980s. For example, the Drughi Bianconeri group (Juventus Turin) now had more than 10,000 members. Also around 2010 there were some groups that had more than 10,000 members. Some well-known groups at that time were Irriducibili Lazio , Ultras Granata, Brigate rossonere Milan, Brescia MU 1911, Curva Nord Bergamo . Well-known groups that shaped the Italian ultra mentality have disbanded because of the ongoing repression by the Lega Calcio and the police; Mention may be made: Brigate Gialloblu 71 Verona, Bna Atalanta, Commando Ultras Napoli, Verona Front, Collettivo Autonomo Viola. The year 2007 marked a turning point in the movement when the dead Filippo Raciti (policeman) and Gabriele Sandri (Lazio fan) were used as an opportunity to further intensify the repression, to ban pyrotechnics and megaphones, to only allow authorized banners in the stadium and to make the “Tessera del Tifoso” fan card compulsory for away and season tickets.

Some groups had a big influence on club politics. So z. B. the now disbanded Fossa dei Leoni decide what could be sold by whom in its fan curve. Individual groups had a certain political direction. There are right-wing extremist fan groups like the Irriducibili Lazio , right -wing ones like the Skins (now dissolved) or the Viking Inter, but also neutral or left-wing extremists like the now dissolved Brigate Autonome Livornesi of AS Livorno Calcio . By 2010 more than 445 registered ultra groups with more than 74,000 members were known.
On May 3, 2014, AS Roma ultras attacked buses belonging to
SSC Napoli fans and in the scuffle that followed, an AS Roma Ultra shot and killed an SSC Napoli fan. In December 2018, an Inter Milan fan died in Milan when several ultra groups attacked a bus carrying Napoli fans.

France

Choreography of the Commando Ultra 84, Ultra group by Olympique Marseille

Thanks to its proximity to Italy , an ultra-scene also developed in the 1980s, particularly in southern France . The first groups formed in Marseille , namely the 'Commando Ultra 84' and the 'South Winners 87'. Both groups are still active today (end of 2018). They are known for their anti-fascist and anti-racist attitudes.

In the course of the years more ultra groups formed in Marseille ; the "Yankee Nord 1987", "Fanatiks 1988", "Dodgers 1992" & the "Marseille Trop Puissant 1994". Each of these groups has several thousand members. The individual ultra groups have fixed places in the two fan curves and are given the right by the club to sell the tickets for their respective area including a surcharge agreed with the club . With the surcharge, the Ultras in Marseille finance the choreographies and the away trips.

In Saint-Étienne , the groups “Magic Fans 1991” and “Green Angels 1992” formed a large ultra-scene that (as in Paris, Lyon and Marseille) is spread over two fan curves and is one of the largest and most creative in the country .

In Lyon , the group "Bad Gones 1987" is active on the Virage Nord and is one of the most famous ultra groups in the country. On the other side of the stadium are the "Lyon 1950"

In Nantes the group “Brigade Loire 1999” exists .

In Bordeaux , the "Ultramarines Bordeaux 1987" exist; they are considered politically left.

In Paris in 1985, the Boulogne Boys also formed a first ultra group on the Kop de Boulogne. It was banned by the Ministry of the Interior in 2008 after it was often noticed by extremely violent behavior as well as right-wing extremist slogans and symbolism, including swastikas . Shortly before, they had presented a banner reading "Pedophiles, unemployed and incest-begotten, welcome to the northern French" at a league cup final against RC Lens . On PSG's other fan curve, the “Virage Auteuil”, the groups Supras Auteuil, Lutece Falco, Authentiks, Grinta and, until their dissolution, the Tigris Mystic gathered .

Due to their different political orientations (Kop de Boulogne = more right, white and French; VA = multicultural, more left), the fan groups were very hostile towards each other, which resulted in numerous brawls among themselves, one even resulting in death. All Parisian ultra and hooligan groups were then banned by the French Interior Ministry in 2010 and all fans in the two fan curves were banned from the stadium . In 2016, in close cooperation between the new fan association Collectif Ultras Paris , the club management and the police, the return of organized ultras to the Prinzenpark was made possible under certain conditions.

There are numerous other ultra groups at other clubs, including in the lower leagues.

Germany

Choreography by UF97, Ultra group by Eintracht Frankfurt

The first groups on German soil were the Fortuna Eagles Supporters from Cologne in 1986 and the Soccer Boyz (today: Ultras Leverkusen ) from Leverkusen in 1989 . In the 1990s the 'scene' in Germany grew slowly; After the turn of the millennium, the Ultras took over the "supremacy" in the fan curves in many clubs over unorganized fans or fans organized in conventional fan clubs.

From the mid-2000s, the German ultra-movement experienced a boom in members, sympathizers and groups. In the course of this development, known as massing, fan researchers stated that the Ultras had become the dominant fan culture from the subculture. By mixing it with other scenes such as hip-hop, punk, graffiti and street art, the ultra scene also radiates into other areas of youth culture. There are now a number of graffiti films with and by Ultras and various well-known musicians refer to the scene.

However, the increase in personnel also changed the movement. After a subcultural and partly political phase, more groups have been described as increasingly self-referential since the 2010s. The role of violence has also taken on a new status. These changes have also led to disputes within the individual ultra groups, which in some cases were unsettled and led to divisions and new foundations.

In the meantime, almost all clubs in the top three leagues have groups that see themselves as ultras, and also in hierarchically lower divisions. In total there should be more than 25,000 Ultras in Germany, organized in more than 300 groups.

Austria

Choreography of the Ultras Rapid, Ultra group of the SK Rapid Vienna

In Austria , too, there are some ultra groups with different degrees of activity and awareness.

The oldest and most internationally known group are the Ultras Rapid in 1988 , said to demolition of the stadium in 2014 on the "Block West" West Stand of the St. Hanappi Stadium to SK Rapid Wien support. Since the 2016/17 season they have been doing this in the newly built West Stadium on the South Stand, which however still bears the name “Block West”. The Ultras Rapid were selected in 2005 by the TIFO (Torcida International Fans Organization) to group with the best choreographies in Europe and currently have around 800 members.

More Ultra groups at Rapid Wien are the Tornados Rapid 1996 , Lords Rapid 2004 , Green Lions in 2003 , Spirits Rapid 1999 , , Gladiatori & Gioventu (a junior research group of Ultras Rapid ).

At the city rivals FK Austria Wien , the groups Viola Fanatics 2001 , Kai 2000, Boys Viola, Industry Viola are known.

The curve of SK Sturm Graz home in addition to the three leading groups of Brigata Graz 1994 the Grazer storm surge 96 and Jewels storm even smaller groups such as the generation of chaos, Bastion Nord, Black Storm, Unita, Black Soul, Dark Scene Vienna , etc. The ultra -oriented fans of Sturm Graz appear together under the name "Kollektiv 1909" and, in addition to other campaigns such as the magazine Schwarzmalerei, campaign against racism.

The Salzburg groups Union Ultra '99 , Tough Guys Salzburg 92 , Lunatics 1999, Fraternite Violette 2007 suffered a lot from the takeover of their club Austria Salzburg by Red Bull , as this was rejected by large parts of the Salzburg fan scene. The 4 ultra groups now support the new Austria Salzburg .

Also worth mentioning is the ultra fan scene of FC Wacker Innsbruck , where the crazy heads 1991, Il Furiosi, Wacker Unser, Unterland 1913 are based.

The ultras of the GAK should also be emphasized, especially those from the fan group Red Firm and "Society Graz" and the ultras of LASK Linz , especially the Viking Linz and the Linzer Jungs fan club , as well as the Linz pyromaniacs and the Linz blue helmets 03 of FC Blau-Weiß Linz , as well as the Supras group of SV Ried . Especially since the promotion to the Bundesliga in 2011, there has also been strong fan growth at FC Admira Wacker .

Switzerland

Choreography by the YB Ultra Movement, Ostkurve Bern

In Switzerland, the first ultra groups emerged in the mid-1990s in Geneva (“Generation Ultra” / “Section Grenat”), in Lugano (“Armata”) and in Sion (see below). In recent years, ultra groups have also emerged in most German-speaking Swiss clubs; the most important are located in Basel , Bern , Zurich , Lucerne and St. Gallen . In Zurich you can find the Ultras in the so-called "Zurich South Curve", which supports FC Zurich . They are known throughout Switzerland for their very creative and elaborate choreographies. Above all, there are two large ultra groups (“Blue Side”, “Bulldogs”) in the so-called “Estrade East” at the city rival Grasshoppers Zurich (GC). The "Formation Luzern" ("FL"), "Blue White Generation" ("BWG"), "La Familia Luzern" ("LF"), "Blue Line" ("BL") and "Musegg Front" should also be mentioned "(" MF "), who support FC Luzern , the" Ultras Sion "," Freaks Sion "," Lousy Scum "or" Red Side "of FC Sion , the" Green Power ", the" Flash "," Bangor. " Maniacs ”,“ Saint Brothers ”and the“ Jokers ”at FC St. Gallen in the Espenblock and the ultra groupings in the east curve of Bern for Young Boys Bern such as Maniacs , Urban Squad , Amici Berna , Bernerkanone , Schurken or Wankdorf Supporters .

Also worth mentioning are the “Inferno Basel”, “Fanatics”, “Goodfellas”, “Kaos” and “RH17BS” from FC Basel , which are located in the “Muttenzer curve”. Although the Basel fans are known for their elaborate choreos, the Basel scene also made negative headlines time and again. After the 2006 championship (last game) just missed in their own stadium against FC Zurich , there was a storm and rioting in and outside the stadium after FC Zurich scored the decisive goal in the 93rd minute. The Basel ultra scene is known for its riots; the guest sector in the Hardturm stadium of Grasshoppers Zurich was set on fire several times, causing property damage.

At the end of 2006, many Swiss cities criticized the league and the clubs because most of them did not pay anything towards the cities' high expenditure on safety (from CHF 100,000 per home game), which has now become necessary. In recent years, violence at Swiss football matches (by ultras and hooligans) has been more widely registered by the media and politicians than before and is therefore a big topic of conversation today. This is despite the fact that both violence and property damage have decreased significantly in recent years. The best example of a non-repressive fan policy is currently being implemented in Basel. Self-regulation within the fan curve has significantly reduced or prevented rioting, among other things.

Netherlands

The capital club Ajax Amsterdam in particular has a big ultra scene with the main group Vak-410, which operates until 2016. The group broke up due to the structural changes for the new season (there will be a complete standing room curve in the lower tier in the future) and joined the notorious F-Side, which in the recent past has also increasingly developed in the direction of ultraculture . Other groups are South Crew , North Up Alliance and 4th .

Also Feyenoord Rotterdam has a large Ultra scene with De Noordzijde .

The clubs FC Twente ( Ultras Vak-P, Born Fanatics ), FC Groningen ( Ultras Cruoninga ), SC Heerenveen ( Nieuw Noord ), NEC Nijmegen ( Legio Noviomagum ), FC Utrecht (Bunnikside), etc. have other well-known ultra scenes . a.

Poland

The Polish ultra scene is certainly one of the largest ultra scenes in a European country comparison and there are still ultra groups even in the 7th division. The Polish ultra scene is strongly interwoven with the hooligan scene and in part is also identical to it.

The scenes from Legia Warsaw and Lech Posen are considered the greatest scenes .

Great Britain

In contrast to mainland Europe, it was never possible to establish large ultra-scenes, which was mainly due to the repressive forces of order, the ban on numerous Tifo materials (flags, confetti, double brackets , block flags, choreographies, etc.), the ban on standing places, high ticket prices as well as a great rejection of numerous (older) fans towards the ultra-movement.

Nevertheless, there are ultra groups at the clubs Crystal Palace ( Holmesdale Fanatics ) and Celtic Glasgow ( Green Brigade ) as well as numerous lower-class clubs, with the Holmesdale Fanatics and the Green Brigade with more than 150 members certainly being the largest.

2016 Celtic became the first professional club on the island again standing ( Safe Standing ) one which, among others, the Green Brigade are used.

Portugal

Fans of the Portuguese national team with the flag of the Ultras for the Soccer World Cup 2006 in Cologne

The Juventude Leonina of Sporting Lisbon , founded in 1976, is the largest and oldest ultra grouping in Portugal. The Diablos Vermelhos and No Name Boys (abbreviated NN), on the other hand, support their city rivals Benfica . There are also the Super Dragões and Directivo from FC Porto as well as the Torcida Verde , Directivo XXI and the Brigada , all also from Sporting. Other ultra groups are less well known.

Turkey

As in the entire Balkan region, the scene in Turkey is one of the most pronounced ultra-movements in Eurasia. In addition to the groups of the İstanbul big clubs ultrAslan ( Galatasaray ), Genç FB ( Fenerbahçe ) and Çarşı ( Beşiktaş ) there are also established groups of many Anatolian teams, such as B. Vira ( Trabzonspor ), Teksas ( Bursaspor ), Gecekondu ( MKE Ankaragücü ), Şimşekler Grubu ( Adana Demirspor ), Tatangalar ( Sakaryaspor ) and Karşıyaka Çarşı ( Karşıyaka SK ). The Turkish Football Association and the club boards decide at the beginning of the season whether ultra groups are allowed to attend games in the stadiums of their "arch rivals". At the Istanbul city derbies and at games of the rival clubs from Izmir, Karşıyaka SK and Göztepe Izmir , riots often occur. Particularly during the protests in Taksim Square in 2013, the ultras made up a large part of the radical demonstrators. The Çarşı from Beşiktaş is z. T. viewed as a criminal organization.

Greece

Choreography of GATE 13 at a Panathinaikos home basketball game

The scene in Greece is considered to be one of the most extreme in Europe. In duels between the big clubs in the greater Athens area ( Olympiakos Piraeus , Panathinaikos Athens , AEK Athens ) there are often serious riots. This is why the ultra groups there have been banned from attending derbies in their opponents' stadium for several years. The best known groups are Thyra 13 ( Gate 13 , Panathinaikos), Thyra 7 (Olympiacos), Thyra 4 (PAOK), Autonomous Gate 10 (Iraklis Thessaloniki), Super3 (Aris Thessaloniki), Monsters (AEL) and Original 21 (AEK Athens ).

Croatia

The oldest ultra group in Croatia is the so-called Torcida of Hajduk Split . The group has its roots in 1950, when an ultra-modern support was organized ahead of a crucial championship game. After the rapid ban by the Yugoslav government and the following years of forcibly unorganized supporters, a rebirth took place in 1980. Today the Bad Blue Boys from the capital club Dinamo Zagreb, founded in 1986, are the biggest rivals on the scene. Serious violent clashes often occur between members of the rival groups. During the devastating forest fires around Split in the summer of 2017, some hostile ultra-groups (e.g. from Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb), together with several hundred supporters, support the fire brigades in fighting the fire. Also worth mentioning is the Armada group , which supports the HNK Rijeka association.

Serbia

Illegal pyrotechnics at the Delije

Many clubs in Serbia also have ultra groups. The largest groups are the Delije from Red Star Belgrade and the Grobari from Partizan Belgrade , but there are also larger groups at OFK Belgrade , Rad Belgrade , FK Novi Pazar and Vojvodina Novi Sad . It should also be mentioned that the words Delije and Grobari are used more generally for fans of Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade. Which also means that every fan of Roter Stern is automatically a Delija and a fan of Partizan is automatically a Grobar . Within the Delijas and Grobaris there are innumerable fan groups and fan clubs as well as ultra groups. In the Marakana Stadium in Red Star Belgrade, the chairs in their “north curve” are arranged in such a way that they form the word Delije (Делиjе, plural of Delija ) in red and white and in Cyrillic script . The use of pyrotechnics is part of everyday life in Serbian stadiums, and there are often outbreaks of violence around football matches.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The three largest Ultra groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina are the two capital clubs Horde Zla of FK Sarajevo and The Maniacs 1987 of FK Željezničar Sarajevo and from Mostar Dating grouping Ultras Mostar . The use of pyrotechnics is prohibited in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but is part of everyday life in the stadiums there. Other well-known fan groups are the Lesinari , Robijasi , Fukare , Red Army Mostar ( FK Velež Mostar ) and Škripari

Denmark

The most important ultra groups are the Urban Crew from FC Copenhagen and the Alpha Brøndby , Deling 43 and Fri Sport groups from Brøndby IF .

Other groups are the Nysir ( Aarhus GF ), Shamrock Ultras Viborg ( Viborg FF ), Ultras Midtjylland ( FC Midtjylland ), Nordvestkurve Esbjerg 2009 ( Esbjerg FB ), Vesttribunen ( Aalborg BK ).

Especially the capital city derby (FCK against Brøndby) is always very heated and is accompanied by both fan curves with big choreographies, pyro shows and corteos.

Sweden

The fan scenes of the three capital city clubs are very creative and have a large number of members, including numerous ultra groups. Mention should be made here: Ultra Caos Stockholm 2003 ( Djurgården ), Hammarby Ultras 1993, Söder Bröder 1998, Ultra Boys 1999 ( Hammarby ), Black Army, Sol Invictus, Ultras Nord 2002 ( AIK ).

There are also ultra groups outside the capital with clubs such as Malmö FF ( Supras Malmö, Rex Scania, Brigada Malmö), IF Elfsborg ( Yellow Fanatiks ), Orgryte ( Inferno Orgryte ), GAIS ( GAIS Tifo ) or IFK Göteborg ( Ultras Göteborg) .

Ukraine

Ultras from Dynamo Kiev 2008

In Ukraine, the Ultras from Dynamo Kiev are particularly notable for their violence, which often escalated in games against clubs from Donbass such as Shakhtar Donetsk . During the fighting on the Majdan in 2014, they occurred z. T. armed on. The ultras of Shakhtar Donetsk concluded a truce with them, Metalurh Zaporizhia and others in January 2014 in order to demonstrate together on the Maidan. The Ukrainian ultras are considered nationalistic and also take part in the war in the east of the country.

Bulgaria

CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia have the most important scenes in Bulgaria .

The CSKA ultra groups gather in sector G. The most important groups there are the Ofanziva and the Animals.

Levski’s groups are in Sector B. Lokomotive Plovdiv has another important Ultra appendix with the Lauta Army .

Romania

The first ultra group was formed in 1992 with the Ultras Farul in Constanta .

In the course of the 1990s, more imitators of this group emerged in Romania, whereby the Commando Viola Ultra Curva Sud, founded in 1995 by the Politehnica Timisoara association , was and is viewed by most ultra-oriented fans in Romania as the first "real" ultra group due to its mentality and appearance.

Today, the three capital city associations have Rapid Bucharest ( Ultras Unione 1998; OH 1998; Maniacs 1999; Brigada 921 ), Steaua Bucharest ( Chaos, Nukleo, Tineretului Korps, Vacarm, Ultras, Stil Ostil, Ragazzi, Hunters, Asalt, Banda Ultra ) and Dinamo Bucharest ( Nuova Guardia, Mad Men, Brigate, Panzer, Energizatii, Dogs of War, Tifosi) the largest and most ultra groups in the country.

At Politehnica Timisoara , the groups Urban Guerilla , Masseria , UltraNativ and Drojdierii operate under the umbrella organization CVUCS .

Other clubs such as Universitatea Craiova ( Ultras, Sezione Ultra ', Praetoria ), Petrolul Ploiesti ( Knot, Lethal Gang ), FC Vaslui ( Dorobantii, Brigada Suprema, Radical ) and others have well-known ultra scenes.

Slovenia

In Slovenia there are active ultra fan scenes in Ljubljana ( Green Dragons ), Maribor ( Viole ) and Nova Gorica ( Terror Boys ), which originated in the late 80s / early 90s.

Spain

In Spain, the ultra scene developed from the 1970s and 1980s, with a strong focus on Italy. The most important groups are Biris Norte 1975 ( Sevilla FC ), Ultras Sur 1980 ( Real Madrid ); Boixos Nois 1981 ( FC Barcelona ); Frente Atlético ( Atlético Madrid ), Bukaneros ( Rayo Vallecano ), Riazor Blues 1975 ( Deportivo La Coruña ).

Almost every club in the top three leagues has at least one ultra grouping.

From the mid-1980s, the Spanish ultra scene mixed strongly with the subculture of the skinheads and often took over the political radicalism and the extreme willingness to use violence. Groups like Ultras Sur, Frente Atlético, Ultras Yomus ( Valencia CF ) and many others are counted as part of the right-wing extremist spectrum, and groups like Biris Norte, Bukaneros and others belong to the left-wing extremist spectrum. Others like Riazor Blues are known for their separatist views and openly advocate their region's independence from Spain.

Due to several deaths related to violence by ultras and the extreme political attitudes of many groups, the reputation of the ultras in Spain is very bad and the clubs and the police take tough action against the ultras depending on the situation. The Boixos Nois, for example, have had a stadium ban at FC Barcelona since 2003.

For some years now, a second generation of ultras has been developing, which are again oriented more towards the support of the team and clearly distance themselves from the political radicalism and extreme violence of the first generation. Since 2016, 1,200 members of 5 ultra groups belonging to this second generation have been allowed to return to the FC Barcelona stadium.

Real Madrid is also trying to push back the influence of the extreme Ultras Sur through the fan association RMCF and to absorb and moderate splits from those like the Veteranos or Orgulo Vikingo.

Other sports

Handball

Since 2000, ultra groups have also been formed in handball. For a long time, the Ultras Flensburg were considered the first and most important group. They were able to develop through the largest standing room in the German handball league . The group disbanded in 2016. Ultra groups later also emerged at other German handball clubs. Abroad there are the boys from Aalborg (Denmark) and the Florijani from Celje (Slovenia). There are also many groups in the leagues of the Eastern European countries.

ice Hockey

Ultras of the ETC Crimmitschau
  • Germany: Mainly since 2000/2001, the ultra idea has also caught on in the German ice hockey fan scene, and so various ultra groups can be found in many ice halls and arenas from the DEL to the top leagues. However, the first ultra-similar groups formed earlier. The first choreographies could be seen in Munich in the mid-1990s and the Munich Supporters were formed . The Ultra Club Red Line was founded in Krefeld in 1996 . But groups also formed in Augsburg ( Augsburg 98 (dissolved in 2017) ) and Schwenningen ( SERC Supporters 99 ) before the turn of the millennium. At the time, choreographies and other ultra properties were viewed with great skepticism, but are now common practice in many halls. Identifying with ultra groups from Switzerland and the indifferent to hostile attitude of the other fans at the respective location is characteristic of many ice hockey ultras . In the rather small scene there are many contacts among the active people in the various groups.
  • Switzerland: In Lugano are Ragazzi della Northern encountered in Ambri the Gioventù Bianco Blù . These two ultra groups and their curves have long been among the qualitatively strongest in Switzerland , the ultra mentality shaped the curves of these two Ticino clubs for many years, but these have now been overtaken by the scenes from Biel, Kloten, Zug and Bern. The ultra-movement in Kloten has long been known for its large and elaborate choreographies, which are organized by the Blue Eagles Kloten and the South-Side Kloten 2001 , other Swiss curves are also almost exclusively characterized by ultra groups:

Commando Ultrà Bern 2002, Bärengrabe 1989, Section Murten 09 and Halunken SC Bern , Clockwork Biel-Bienne , Insieme Bienna and Ultima Ratio Biel , IG Geneva , Fanatics , Wild Boys, Adolez Rapperswil Rapperswil-Jona , Section Uruguay , Pathos, Predators, Division Zurich , North Side, Blue Kinghts , Black Crew , Zug , Blue Devilz , Davos and Young Supporters ( Davos ) category . Many ultra groups are also formed in the second highest division.

  • Austria: The largest groups exist in Linz ( Overtime , Powerplay Enns , Bully: Absolut ), Vienna ( ICEFIRE , Vienna hockey fans , Optimists , cab Caps ), Klagenfurt ( stairs 19 , Red-White Dragons , Vikings , Section Vienna , Section Graz ), Graz ( Niners , Grazer Lions , Grazer Oranje ), Villach ( Absolut Villach ), Feldkirch ( Südchaos Feldkirch ), Innsbruck (Haisociety Tirol) and Dornbirn ( Dorobirar Ishacklar )

basketball

At the end of the 90s, ultra groups also emerged in basketball, especially in southern European countries such as Serbia, Croatia, Greece, Italy and Spain. But fanatical fan groups also developed in basketball in Turkey and Russia. In Serbia, Turkey and especially in Greece, choreography and pyrotechnics (despite the high fire hazard in the halls) are part of everyday life. In some countries, such as Greece and Croatia, a club's ultras support both the club's football and basketball teams. In Germany or France, despite the great popularity of basketball, there are almost no ultra groups, but fan clubs like the Ultras Nördlingen, which have the characteristics of ultra groups. However, because basketball has been gaining in popularity in recent years (and the trend continues to rise), it cannot be ruled out that ultra-groups could develop in basketball in non-southern European countries in the next few years. In South America (especially in Argentina), but also in China, there are ultra- and ultra-similar groups in basketball. In the USA, the motherland of basketball, there are still no ultra groups.

literature

art

Audio

interview

Web links

Commons : Ultras  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c d e Ralf Heck: Between own goal and uprising. Ultras in the current revolts . In: Kosmoprolet . No. 4 . Berlin 2015.
  2. Christoph Ruf: Curve Rebels: The Ultras - Insights into a contradicting scene . Verlag Die Werkstatt, Göttingen 2013, ISBN 978-3-7307-0044-0 .
  3. Jonas Gabler: The Ultras. Football fans and football cultures in Germany . Papyrossa, 2010, ISBN 978-3-89438-446-3 .
  4. a b c d Songs of Revolt. fan time, accessed March 26, 2016 .
  5. a b c d Between rebellion and affirmation, or: Ultras are political and again they are not . In: The Deadly Pass . No. 79 ( blogsport.eu [accessed March 26, 2016]).
  6. a b c d e James M. Dorsey: The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer. Retrieved March 27, 2016 .
  7. Schalke: Police checked 190 Ultras
  8. Christian Spiller: Islam and football are the most important things . Interview with James M. Dorsey. In: time online . October 21, 2011 ( zeit.de [accessed March 26, 2016]).
  9. ^ Attack on the revolutionaries. In: Spiegel online . February 2, 2012.
  10. Deadly chase in the football stadium. In: Spiegel online. February 2, 2012.
  11. a b c Ralf Heck: The hippie hools from Gezi Park. Blickfang Ultra 34, accessed March 26, 2016 .
  12. Enemies in the stadium, friends in Taksim Square. ( Memento from December 9, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) ZDFsport.de, accessed on July 8, 2013.
  13. Ukraine: Klitschko's two-front fight. In: The press . January 25, 2014.
  14. a b c From the Maidan to the front. Retrieved March 26, 2016 .
  15. ^ A b Daniel Ryser, Philipp Natzke: Warriors in cool sneakers. Retrieved March 26, 2016 .
  16. altravita.com> Football> Details on the death of the policeman Filippo Raciti. In: altravita.com. November 17, 2007, accessed October 2, 2017 .
  17. ^ Football fans in Egypt: The last revolutionaries. Retrieved November 28, 2017 .
  18. a b c d organized protests by the Ultras. Accessed October 2017 .
  19. First meeting between DFB and Ultras: that was discussed . ( fussballmafia.de [accessed September 27, 2018]).
  20. Ultras close the dialogue with the DFB . ( fussballmafia.de [accessed September 27, 2018]).
  21. Ultras ( Memento from February 21, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
  22. Domenico Mungo: Stray Mutt. A novel about two decades of Italian ultraculture, friendships, struggles and drugs. ( Memento of September 3, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) 1st German edition. Burkhardt & Partner Verlag, Freital 2011.
  23. Giovanni Francesio: tifare Contro. A history of the Italian ultras. ( Memento of September 26, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) 1st German edition. Burkhardt & Partner Verlag, Freital 2010.
  24. Giorgio Specchia: Il Teppista. 30 cursed years in Milan. ( Memento of the original from December 3, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 1st German edition. Burkhardt & Partner Verlag, Freital 2012. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / shop.blickfang-ultra.de
  25. ^ Josef Gruber: Ultras Italy. Illustrated book 1998-2006. ( Memento of the original from December 3, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 1st edition. Burkhardt & Partner Verlag, Freital 2012. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / shop.blickfang-ultra.de
  26. In the book publication by Sommerey, Marcus: Die Jugendkultur der Ultras - On the emergence of a new generation of football fans , 2010 (from page 53)
  27. NZZ.ch December 27, 2018: In Italy's football, racism and violence reign once again
  28. CU 84. Retrieved December 2018 .
  29. www.south-winners.com (accessed December 30, 2018)
  30. ^ Yankee North. Accessed July 2016 .
  31. Fanatics Marseille. Accessed July 2016 .
  32. Dodgers Marseille. Accessed July 2016 .
  33. MTP. Accessed July 2016 .
  34. ^ Ultras in Marseille . In: Fascination Fan Curve . Issue 18 ( faszination-fankurve.de [PDF]).
  35. Magic fans. ( Memento of February 7, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) at: europeanultras.com
  36.  ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) membres.multimania.fr/@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / membres.multimania.fr
  37. ^ Bad Gones 87. Retrieved July 2016 .
  38. ^ Lyon 1950. Retrieved July 2016 .
  39. http://brigadeloire.fr
  40. ^ Ultramarines Bordeaux 1987. Retrieved July 2016 .
  41.  ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) www.boulogne-boys.org/@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.boulogne-boys.org
  42. bpb.de
  43. in reference to the then current film " Willkommen bei den Sch'tis "
  44. ^ Ultra-scene in France. Accessed July 2016 .
  45. Death of a PSG fan after rioting. Accessed July 2016 .
  46. the end of the Parisian fan scene. Accessed July 2016 .
  47. Ultras are allowed to return to Paris SG. In: faszination-fankurve.de. September 30, 2016, accessed September 30, 2016 .
  48. fortuna-eagles.de About the Eagles. ( Memento from February 26, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
  49. ultras-leverkusen.de: The history of the Leverkusen ultra scene
  50. Peter Czoch: The history of the German ultras. A glimpse of their development. 2016
  51. Among other things / Ultras. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on June 27, 2016 ; accessed in July 2016 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.unter-anderen.de
  52. ^ Tornadoes Rapid. Accessed July 2016 .
  53. Lords Rapid. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on July 12, 2016 ; accessed in July 2016 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.lordsrapid.at
  54. ^ Green Lions. Accessed July 2016 .
  55. Spirits Rapid. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on July 27, 2016 ; accessed in July 2016 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.spiritsrapid.at
  56. http://z6.invisionfree.com/UltrasTifosi/index.php?showtopic=4453. Accessed in 2016 .
  57. Anti-fan politics in the UK. Accessed July 2016 .
  58. 11 Friends / England Ultras. Accessed July 2016 .
  59. 11 friends / standing room in England. Accessed July 2016 .
  60. British TV report about the rivalry between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce ultras and the Göztepe and Karşıyaka ultras
  61. We won. Football fans at the Taksim protests. In: TAZ. June 22, 2013, online: taz.de
  62. Stuttgarter Nachrichten, Stuttgart, Germany: Forest fires in Croatia: Football fans help with the extinguishing work . In: stuttgarter-nachrichten.de . ( stuttgarter-nachrichten.de [accessed on September 13, 2017]).
  63. ^ Stadium fans / Sweden. Accessed July 2016 .
  64. Alexander Neumann-Delbarre: Football Ultras fight in the Revolutionary Wars on the front line. In: Focus. May 11, 2014, online: focus.de
  65. Julia Smirnova: The most brutal ultras stop their battles. In: The world. March 31, 2014, online: welt.de
  66. Ultras.Tifo Net Bulgaria. Accessed July 2016 .
  67. History of Rumanian Ultras. Accessed in 2016 .
  68. [1]