The Influence of Ultras in Football
The culture within a football club’s fan base is what truly makes them unique. Of course, we aren’t strangers to the tribal nature that football fans have which ultimately adds another layer of competitiveness for fans.
Well, in some fan bases at clubs across the World, often there are let’s say dedicated, unorthodox and fanatical supporters which have commonly come to be known as ultras.
A term which started in Italy however it is a term and culture that is very much adopted everywhere else. Common behaviours include using flares (often in their club’s colours), extremely noticeable vocal chanting and large banners with different messages.
No doubt playing in a stadium full of ultras in intimidating for any visiting team, the behaviours of some ultra-groups are sure to shake up opposition players at one point during a football match.
The ‘’ ultra’’ tag has kind of become a badge of honour for some supporters, idolising the fact that they are heard and seen more than any other type of fan. Either frightening or incredible they are the beating heart for some clubs.
It takes a certain type of character to be an ultra. They are most likely going to be extremely extroverted individuals who don’t shy away from any confrontation and aren’t shy to made their voices be heard and known
Now, ultras mean different things to different clubs but there is no doubting their influence on their clubs, whether through positive or negative experiences the club are very much aware of their ultra-section of fans.
They are very much a source of controversy in football, and definitely a sub-culture of football. Fan expression is important but do we need a more watchful eye over some of these ultra-groups moving forward?
Why are Ultras in Football important?
Well if we look at where this culture originated, in Italy the purpose of these ultra-groups when they first started is to represent the traditions in which their clubs are founded on.
Ultras are almost like soldiers or knights defending their territory and making sure their traditions and heritage is respected and upheld not only by the club’s hierarchy but visiting clubs also.
They’re lives are very much immersed in their club. If it isn’t matchday the rest of the week will be spent by preparing for the next one. Preparing banners, watch training sessions, spectate at youth games and arriving earlier to prepare their section of the ground.
Away matches are equally as important as they present an opportunity to show off their pride and make themselves be known in other cities or ‘’territories’’.
Often for away games or away European ties, ultras have been known to march through cities in their large numbers making their presence known.
You often would see some visual spectaculars on club anniversaries or momentous occasions surrounding club occasions, where some beautiful choreography can be seen. Along with derbies, other rivalries and maybe even a cup final.
It is also a common theme that these ultras put on a show regardless of their teams result on the pitch as they always look to put on an experience that no one will ever forget.
Friendships and rivalries can often be confused in ultra-culture. Friends who may support clubs in the same city can have turbulent relationships if they belong to their club’s ultra-group.
For home players they can only feel that desire to match the intensity that their ultras are projecting. For the away team, there is a desire to try and shut them up by performing on the pitch despite the obvious challenges to do so.
In recent times, this culture has become a spearhead and focal point for the growing commercialisation of football.
The controversy with Ultras
Whilst no doubt they are a collective who show unity in their devotion to the club they aren’t without their faults.
Sometimes we see the actions of ultra-groups get extreme. Some group are often influenced by political ideas whether it be socialism, nationalism, fascism.
Views on race, religion and sexual orientation can often be the catalyst to acts that could be considered extreme.
Lazio’s ultra-group have set themselves a fierce rivalry with AS Livorno and Atalanta as a result of their political beliefs. Lazio’s group consider them consider themselves as far-right politically and naturally a rivalry forms with Left-Wing Ultra groups of Atalanta and Livorno.
Italy has a dark history with its ultra-culture, some groups have ties to violent gangs and the mafia as well as being notorious for inciting violence before a ball has even been kicked.
Even till this day, in Italian football you will see some empty or partially filled stadiums (this includes pre-COVID) as a result of the bans implemented following a series of inappropriate chants which include both racial and homophobic slurs.
If we, look closer to home here in the UK. There are ultra-groups at some clubs including the Holmesdale Fanatics of Crystal Palace, the Blue Action of Ipswich Town and even the Union FS of Leicester City.
Celtic’s green brigade are very much an anti-fascist ultra-group and set out to establish links to other anti-fascist ultras across Europe in order to reinforce their political beliefs. An example of this is their friendship with German side St. Pauli.
Further down the pyramid in Non-League football you may see Ultra groups quite often most of which are left-wing. Dulwich Hamlet in South London ham an openly communist group known as the ComFast chapter. They also have the rabble a left-wing group.
A VICE article has even claimed that there was existing conflict between right-wing protest group Casuals United linked with the EDL with ANTIFA football ultras. Also clashing with the UKs biggest non-league ultra-group in the Clapton Ultras of Clapton FC.
An evolution from Football Hooliganism?
UEFA labelled football hooliganism as an ‘’English Disease”. And even if there is merit to what they’re saying to label it in such a way is very bold.
Football hooliganism came from British firms or followers of clubs in a gang to go and intimidate the opposition support.
Their behaviour would include chants with racial slurs, fighting, throwing of objects to opposition players and supporters and general disorderly behaviour. Some fights that took place with deadly weapons between groups were considered acts of terrorism.
I’ve always thought that Ultras lie on a spectrum between the loyal fan and football hooliganism. I certainly do think ultra-groups now have become synonymous with violence, intimidation and discriminatory behaviour.
That hooliganism culture has certainly been adopted by ultra-groups across Europe. Of course, all-seater stadiums were one of the measures introduced to prevent crowd disorderly behaviour but they often occur outside the stadium in modern football.
Especially with European fixtures. Most recently the tie between Leicester City and Napoli on matchday one of the UEFA Europa League on the 16th September 2021.
Self-proclaimed Napoli ultras outside the stadium swung their belts in an indiscriminately at the Leicester locals looking to cause some harm along with their intimidating behaviour.
Nine men arrested over the violence with eight of them being Napoli fans. An Italian man arrested for racially abusing a taxi driver. Football hooliganism is still very much alive and the culprits are hiding behind the umbrella of an “Ultra”.
What is being done
Well the fact we see it during international football too just shows the brazenness and audacity of this type of culture
The England National team unfortunately have come to expect to be met with racial jeering and abuse when playing sides in the regions of Eastern Europe. Recent example being their last game against Hungary in the September internationals.
A group of supposed Hungarian Ultras racially abusing both Raheem Sterling and substitute Jude Bellingham during a FIFA World Cup Qualifying match. The interesting thing is that this behaviour has happened before and the Hungarians had a stadium ban imposed by UEFA.
As this wasn’t a ‘’UEFA’’ competition the Hungarian stadium was allowed to be filled with normal capacity which includes these Hungarian ‘’ultras’’ who took the opportunity to boo the taking of the knee, set off flares, launch projectiles and abuse England players.
This is where organisational politics now have to align and be cohesive on this kind of destructive behaviour. Ensuring that troubled hooligans and thugs are kept away from those who genuinely want to see a good game of football.
The sanctions imposed for these types of behaviours aren’t consistent enough whether its club or national team ultras.
Something needs to be done in general to ensure that ominous agendas don’t continue to hide behind the original purity of the Ultra sub-culture. Then again you don’t want to police something created by the fans, something that is all inclusive.
So maybe these Ultra groups have to take responsibility themselves and police their own community of fans, in order to ensure their club or even nation is represented in the best positive light.
Although, if the origins and hierarchy of a particular group are immersed in aggressive and discriminatory behaviour then their club and or nation will continue to be seen in a much negative light. Either way there is a problem here that requires some solutions.