Ultras

For the historical French reactionary faction, see Ultra-royalist.

The Ultras movement, or simply Ultras, is the name given to organized supporters groups for sports teams, mostly European and South American supporters of football teams. This fan sub-group appeared in Italy during the late 1960s when football teams reduced ticket prices in certain areas of the stadiums. Not to be confused with the Hooligan firm or Casual cultures, although some of their supporting style is imitated. Although violent acts can occur, hooligan acts are more the exception than the norm.

Common grounds

Ultra groups are surprisingly homogeneous. They are usually based around a core group (who tend to have "executive control" over the group), with smaller sub-groups organised by ___location, friendship or political stance.

Ultras all tend to use similar banners and flags. The banners are sually of a similar style, such as the banner held in two hands which is a piece of painted light fabric with two poles on each side. Flags, from small to large (some over 4 metres wide). And banners, usually large, durable plastic fabric painted and decorated with the name and symbology of the group. Some groups also sell their own goods such as scarves, hats and jackets. Some of these items then become collectors items.

Ultra culture

The Ultra culture is a mix of several supporting styles, such as scarf-waving and chanting using English, Brazilian Torcida and the original Italian style. An Ultra group can number from a handful of fans to hundreds, and often claim entire sections of the stadium for themselves.

Core points

The four core points of ultra mentality are:

Never stop singing and chanting during a match, no matter what the result,
Never sit down during a match,
Attend as many games as possible, Home and Away. Regardless of cost or distance,
Loyalty to the stand in which the group is located, also known as the Curva.

Match Day

Before big matches most groups choreograph a large display, (or Tifo) for when the teams enter. Ranging in size as the financial capabilities of the groups allow, the tifo can be dsiplayed just in the section of the stadium where the group is localed to at times the entire stadium. Materials used are -

Small sheets of plastic or paper distributed on each seat, that are then held aloft to form a pattern or to colour the stadium (in a similar fashion to the Moscow 1980 Olympics opening ceremony). Other materials used include balloons, paper rolls, huge painted banners, flares and/or smoke bombs, and more recently, giant dolls (as used by Sampdoria's Ultras in 2002). However, the use of flares and smoke bombs is now more limited. The displays are one of the main ways the gropus have of showing their passion and loyalty to their club and team. And the displays, which can be expensive to make, often take months of planning and preparation.

Pol culture icons are often used on banners. For instance -

Alex DeLarge from the novel A Clockwork Orange
Uga, the logo of the University of Georgia Bulldogs American football team

In addition, corporate brand logos and catchphrases are often used.

Ultra groups tend to be highly vocal at matches, with each group having several football chants. The chants are aimed toward and about their own team and club. And other chants aimed at, or about the opposing team and club. The melodies are taken mostly from popular music songs. For example, Guantanamera There exists within the ultras fanblock a loose hierarchy. In most cases, a capo, or group leader, often using a megaphone, coordinates the various activities of the entire group, including chants, songs, and banner drops.

Fanzines play a big part in the movement. Most fanzines are usually A5 in size. As printing costs decrease they have also started to be of more professional quality than the previosuly crudely typewritten, duplicated or photocopied fanzines. Each groups fanzine has information on upcoming mathces, stories and news. There are also several general fanzines, not associated with one particular group such as SuperTifo.

Some groups, particularly in Italy, have animosity toward so-called modern football. All-seater stadiums, more expensive tickets, matches being played at non-traditional times (particularly evening matches), fan-favourite players being sold like merchandise, replaced by players who don't "love the shirt", and the excessive commercialization of football are all common targets for Ultras' animosity. No al Calcio Moderno (Against modern football) is commonly seen on banners in Italian stadiums, and have spread across Europe.

Ultras - club relationship

Groups usually have a representative who liaise with the club owners on a regular basis, mostly regarding ticket and seat allocation, and use of storage facilities. Some clubs provide the groups cheaper tickets, a warehouse to store material and access to the stadium before the match to prepare the tifos.

Some of these relations are criticised by other fans of the club, who see the Ultras as nothing more than troublemakers doing more harm than good. Or when a club has more than one group, some might not agree with favouritism given by the board to one group over another.

Ultras and hooliganism

Although Ultras groups can become violent, the vast majority of matches go ahead with no incidents or even minor scuffles. Unlike hooligans, whose main aim appears to be to antagonise and fight with the fans of other clubs, Ultras main focus is solelt to support their own team. Another difference between Ultras and hooligans is that the hooligans like to be inconspicuous when they travel, usually not wearing team colours, to avoid detection by the police; whereas Ultras tend to be more conspicuous when they travel and like to arrive en masse, which allows the police to keep a close eye on their movements.

When trouble does break out it very much takes the form of a political riot similar to the ones in Italy in the 1970s when the Carabinieri used the same tactics with the Ultras as they did with the political activists.

Politics

File:Super Dragões 34.jpg

FC Porto Ultras Super Dragões, Portugal

Some Ultra groups are associated with political factions. With rivalries and alliances being forged based on the political allegiances.

For instance, Lazios Irriducibili, Romas Boys Roma and TDR, Paris Saint Germains Boulogne Boys and Real Madrids Ultras Sur are known for more than occasionally displaying celtic crosses and swastikas. Whereas other groups, such as Livornos Brigate Autonome Livornesi or Olympique de Marseilles Curva-Massilia are known for displaying flags with the Red Star, the Hammer and sickle, the Anarchist symbol and Che Guevara. Fans of Ajax Amsterdam frequently use the Star of David and Israeli flags, and regularly chant Joden! Joden! (Dutch for Jews! Jews!), in reference to the club's Jewish roots. Some groups refuse to have any political symbols or allow their members to display them in the group's context.

Knowing the "recruitment potential" of the groups, many extremist groups try to distribute propaganda. While this is accepted between politicized groups, in neutral/apolitical groups this can cost the extremists dearly, as it can be seen as an invasion, and thus elicit a violent reaction from the neutral group.

Rivalries

Fierce rivalries between football clubs and its Ultra groups can be found all over the world, though most of the larger rivalries are to be found in Europe and South America.

Rivalries between Ultra groups in Italy, and to some degree between cities in general, have a long tradition. Rivalries are often based around a basic animosity toward the rival team, mostly in derbies (Roma - Lazio, Torino - Juventus, Inter - Milan, Sampdoria - Genoa, etc), others exist due to politics. However, it is also possible that rivalries arise from isolated incidents. Some rivalries might also happen between groups of the same club, either by disputing the capo of the group or when one of the groups is a splinter group. It is also common for there to be a "arch-enemy" groups from other clubs, usually dating back a long time. As one example, in Holland the rivalry between Feyenoord and Ajax ultras is often followed by fighting between the two groups. Feuds between these "arch-rivals" will often prove more intense than normal.

Some times groups will try to capture a banner or flagof a rival group. Losing a banner or flag to a rival group is considered a big humiliation. The group that loses the banner or flag is sometimes disbanded as a last act of honour.

Detractors

Ultra groups have their share of detractors. From the most basic, relating to how the groups follow the game, never sitting during matches while displaying dozens of banners and flags which affect the view of those sitting behind, to more serious criticisms such as physical assault and/or intimidation of regular, non-Ultra fans.

In Spain, ultra is understood primarily as ultraderechista ("extreme rightist"), even though there are groups which assoiciate themselves with the Far left and the separatist movement. The use of neo-Nazi symbols such as spelling Ultras Sur using the runic SS, and violence against supporters of other clubs, including the murder of a Real Sociedad fan, has made Spanish authorities very concerned about ultra activities.