Ultras

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

Common grounds
Ultra groups are surprisingly homogeneous. They are usually organized by a core group , surrounded by smaller groups, formed by location, friends group or political stance.
The material is also almost the same: standards , flags, both regular sized and large and banners, usually large, durable plastic fabric painted and decorated with the name and symbology of the group it belongs. Most groups also sell their own goods like scarves, hats and jackets, and their sale can go across borders for collectors or fans.

Ultra culture
The Ultra culture is a mix of several supporting styles, from the scarf-waving and chants of early English stadia, Brazilian Torcida and the original Italian style. An Ultra group can be composed from few dozens to hundreds, mixing several parts of the community, claim entire sectors of the stadium for themselves and get involved in the team rather more often than regular fans.

Four points are the core of a ultra mentality:

Never stop singing during the whole match, no matter the result;
Never sit down during matches ;
Follow as many games possible, regardless of costs or distances;
Loyalty to the Curva .

There are several recurring imported or pop culture icons used on banners. Alex DeLarge from Anthony Burgess' novel A Clockwork Orange A Clockwork Orange is one of the favourites, Uga, the logo of the University of Georgia Bulldogs Georgia Bulldogs American football team is also used by several groups across Europe in addition to corporate brand logos and catchphrases, whether real or mock-up.

Probably the most important part is the called vocal support. Each group has several football chants, mostly to their team, others for players and staff and finally, some reserved for their rivals. With the melody taken mostly from popular music such as Guantanamera, some chants are copied from other groups and the names changed.

Before big matches most groups prepare a big choreography to be displayed as the teams enter the field. Ranging in size as the financial capabilities of the groups allow, the giant choreographies can take from the complete top where the group is located to the complete stadium. Materials used range from small sheets of plastic or paper distributed by seat, either forming a pattern or just to colour the stadium , balloons, paper rolls, huge painted blankets, flares or smoke signal pots and even more recently, giant dolls . These choreographies are one of the finest displays of love to a club, since they can take up to months to plan, the days before the match to prepare and cost a small fortune to make, despite the ultimate risk of failure.

There is also big animosity towards the so-called modern football. All-seater stadiums, games at Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at late hours, unlike the traditional 3 o'clock Sunday match, more expensive tickets, fan-favourite players being sold like merchandise, replaced by players who don't "love the shirt" and the excessive commercialization of football are a common plea among Ultras. No al Calcio Moderno is a common phrase seen in Italian grounds, and spread across Europe.

Fanzines play also a big part in the movement, and have a huge market inside communities. Usually A5 ISO 216, as professional printing costs decrease they have started to be of more professional quality than the crudely typewriter-duplicated or photocopied fanzines. Each group usually edits a fanzine with information on upcoming games, stories and news, and there are several generalistic publications, the most popular being the SuperTifo.

Ultras - club relationship
They usually have a representative who speaks with the club's bosses 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, access to the stadium before the match to prepare choreographies.

Some of these relations are criticized by fans of the club, who can see the Ultras as nothing more than troublemakers who do the club more harm than good, or when a club has more than one group, some might not agree with favouritism given by the board to a group against another.

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.

Hooliganism
Although Ultras groups can become violent, unlike hooligans most games go with no incidents or minor scuffles with the local police force. Unlike hooligans, Ultras follow to support their team rather than go head to head against locals. Another difference between Ultras and hooligans is that the hooligans like to be inconspicuous when they travel as to avoid detection by police, whereas Ultras are the opposite as they like 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 70's and the Carabinieri use the same tactics towards the Ultras as they did against political activists in the 70's.

Politics
Many Ultra groups are associated with political factions, rivalries appeared and alliances were forged just based on the political premises. While SS Lazio S.S. Lazio's Irriducibili and Real Madrid's Ultras Sur are known for more than occasionally displaying celtic crosses Celtic cross and swastikas, on the other hand there are groups like Livorno A.S. Livorno Calcio's Brigate Autonome Livornesi who show the Red Star, the Hammer and sickle Hammer and sickle, the Anarchist symbol Anarchist symbolism or flags of Che Guevara. Fans of Ajax Amsterdam frequently use the star of David and Israeli flags, to fire up the team, and regularly chant Joden!Joden!, dutch for Jews! Jews!. Some groups refuse to carry any political symbols on their material or allow their members to display them in the group's context.

Knowing the "recruitment potential" of the groups' sectors, 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 big ones are located in Europe and South America.

A lot of big rivalries are from Italy, where rivalries between Ultra groups, and up to some degree between cities in general, have a long tradition. While some happen mostly for animosity towards the opposite side, mostly in derbies , others exist mostly due to politics. However, it's also possible that rivalries fire up from isolated incidents. Some rivalries might also happen between groups of the same club, either by disputing the lead of the curva or when one of the groups is a splinter from the older groups.

It is common for a firm to uphold a special grudge against another firm, their "arch-enemy", which normally dates back ages, to a time where the teams of these two firms had a particularly longlasting period of rivalry. Examples of these include Chelsea vs. Tottenham from England, or Rangers v Celtic from Scotland, or Brøndby vs. FC Copenhagen from Denmark. In Holland the rivalry between Feyenoord and Ajax ultras is often followed by fights between them, fights which are scheduled by phone and many times involving firearms. In Poland rivalry between two Kraków's clubs supporters Wisla and Cracovia is considered to be most famous, and is often very violent. Feuds between these "arch-rivals" will often prove more intense than normal, as the firms will often take an almost religious zeal to these particular fights, seeing these as the true proofs of their superiority.

Rivalries often mean, at less, more offensive chants, phrases or banners towards the other groups themselves, while the fiercest rivalries often include physical confrontation and capture of "enemy" banners. Losing a banner to a rival group is considered a big humiliation. The group that loses the flag is sometimes disbanded as a last act of honour.

Detractors
Like any other organization, Ultra groups have their share of detractors. From the most simple, related to how they follow the game, never sitting during matches while displaying dozens of standards affecting the view of those sitting behind these groups, to more serious criticisms like theft from highway service stations, physical assault or intimidation of "regular" fans and even murder of other groups' members.

In Spain, ultra is understood primarily as ultraderechista , while there are leftist and separatist supporter groups.
The use of neo-Nazi symbols like spelling Ultras Sur with runic Sol (goddess)SS Schutzstaffel and violence against supporters of other clubs, including the murder of a Real Sociedad fan, has made Spanish authorities very concerned about ultra activities.

List of groups
This list include many groups not traditionally called ultras. The South American groups for example has not at all an "ultras style" to them.

Albania:
Tirana FAN-atics

Argentina:
La Doce
Los Borrachos Del Tablón

Australia:
The Gate
The Reds Army
Marinators
Blue & White Brigade
The Squadron
The Shed
The Den
The Northern Element
The Cove

Austria:
Ultras Rapid Wien 1988
Verrückte Köpfe 91
Nordpol Innsbruck
Brigata Graz
Ultras Unione
Bulldogs
Fedayn
Vikings Linz
Inferno
Kneipenterroristen
Stahlfront
Pyromanen Linz
Blauhelme
Superiors
Supras '96

Belgium:
Ultras Inferno
Publik Hysterik
Black White Storm Ultras
Ultras Bryggja
Drughi Genk
Coal Boys
Kustboys Ultras
Wolf-Side
Mauves army

Brazil:
Galoucura
Gaviões da Fiel
Mancha Verde
Torcida Tricolor Independente
Torcida Dragões da Real
Young Flu
Raça Rubro Negro
Torcida Jovem
Geral do Grêmio
Leões da Fabulosa
Os Fanaticos
Mafia Azul

Bulgaria:
Sofia Zapad
Blue Warriors
Lauta Hools
Neapolitani
Trakia Front

Canada:
Ultras Montreal
Ultra Serbs
Southsiders
U Sector

Chile:
La Garra Blanca
Los de Abajo Los de Abajo
Los Cruzados

Colombia:
Comandos Azules Distrito Capital
Resistencia Norte
Guardia Albi-Roja Sur
Los Del Sur
Frente Radical Verdiblanco

Costa Rica:
La Doce
Ultra Morada
Garra Herediana

Croatia:
Bad Blue Boys
Torcida Split
Armada Rijeka
Demoni

Cyprus:
Orange fans
Gate 9

Denmark:
Rebellerne Aarhus.
Academic Ultras
Akademikos
Fanatikos
Odense Ultras
Urban Crew

Ecuador:
Mafia Azul Grana
Muerte Blanca
Sur Oscura
Boca del Pozo

England:
Heed Ultras
Jorvik Reds
Stanley Ultras
ST Ultras
Red Blue Army
Ultras Whites
Celt Clan
Burnley Ultras
Holmesdale Fanatics
The T-Enders
Stretford End Flags, Heaven's Devils
The Mockney Mafia
Thames Valley Casuals
Frat Boys
Hell's Saints

Major firms:
Arsenal: Gooners
Aston Villa: Villa Youth, Steamers
Barnsley: Inter-City Tykes, Five-O
Birmingham City: Zulu Warriors
Blackpool: BRS , Seaside Mafia, BTS
Bolton Wanderers: Tonge Moor Slashers, Mongoose Cuckoo Boys, Billy Whiz Fan Club
Bradford City: The Ointment
Braford PA: The Strollers, PA
Brighton and Hove Albion: Headhunters
Bristol City: Inter-City Robins
Burnley: Suicide Squad
Cambridge United: Cambridge Casuals
Cardiff City: Soul Firm
Carlisle United: BCF
Chelsea: Headhunters
Chesterfield: CBS
Darlington: Darlington Casuals, Bank Top 200, The Gaffa, The Under-5's, The Townies
Derby County: DLF
Doncaster Rovers: DDR
Exeter City: Sly Crew, Greacian Spooners
Fulham: Thames Valley Travellers, Cottage Traders, West London Symphonia, Epsilon Project
Great Yarmouth Town: The Ultra Greats, The Bloated 1's
Grimsby Town: CBP
Hereford United: ICF
Huddersfield Town: HYC
Hull City: City Psychos, Tiger Front
Leeds United: Service Crew, White-bhoys
Leicester City: Baby Squad, MMA, Mathew and Marks Alliance, BIF
Leyton Orient: Artful Dodgers, The Mockney Mafia
Lincoln City: LTE
Manchester City: Maine Line Service Crew, Guv'nors
Manchester United: Inter-City Jibbers, Cockney Reds,The Men in Black
Middlesbrough: Frontline
Millwall: Bushwackers , The Treatment
Newcastle United: Bender Crew, NME
Northampton Town: NAA
Nottingham Forest: Red Dogs, Naughty Forties, Trent End Boot Boys, Forest Executive Crew, The Loggers
Oldham Athletic: Fine Young Casuals
Oxford United: Warlords
Peterborough United: PTC
Plymouth Argyle: Central Element, Pilgrim Chiefs
Portsmouth: 657 Crew
Reading: Berkshire Boot Boys, Royal Arseholes
Rotherham United: Rotherham Casuals
Sheffield United: BBC
Sheffield Wednesday: OCS
Shrewsbury Town: EBF
Slough Town: The Bombers, David Brent Crew
Southampton: Inside Crew, The Uglies, Surburban Casuals
Staines Town: Massive
Stockport County: The Company, Hit Squad
Stoke City: Naughty Forty
Sunderland: Vauxies, Seaburn Casuals, Boss Lads, The Redskins
Swansea City: Swansea Jacks, Jacks Army
Tottenham Hotspur: Yiddos, N17s
Tranmere Rovers: TSB , The Birkheads, TWC
West Bromwich Albion: Section Five, Baggy Hoody Rude Boys
West Ham United: ICF , Green Street
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Subway Army, Bridge Boys
Wrexham: Frontline, Sheepshagger Militia
York City: YNS

Finland:
Sissiryhmä
Sinikaarti
Ultras Jokerit

France:
Orsi Ribelli
Kop De La Butte
Blue Angels
Ultras Auxerre
Bastia 1905
I Guerrieri Turchini
Malherbe Normandy Kop 96
Red Tigers
Kop Sang et Or
Supras Libourne
Dogues Virage Est
Rijsel Spirit
Merlus Ultras
Bad Gones
Lugdunum's
Nucleo
Generation Grenat
Horda Frenetik
Inferni
Ultras Monaco
Armata Ultra
Butte Paillade
Brigade Ultra
Brigade Loire
Brigade Sud
Armada Rumpetata
Collectif Embriagoun
Gladiators
Commando Ultras '84
South Winners
Yankees
OM West
Fanatics
Marseille Trop Puissant
Dodger's
Ultras Genabum
Boulogne Boys
Supras Auteuil
Lutéce Falco
Tigris Mystic
Authentiks
Puissance Paris
Ultrem
Kop Rouge et Blanc
Joyriders
Banda Ultra
Ultra Boys 90
Kop Ciel et Blanc
Magic Fans
Green Angels

Germany:
Schickeria München
The Unity
Ultras Frankfurt
Ultras Düsseldorf
Ultras Duisburg
Commando Cannstatt 97
Ultras Essen
Ultras Nürnberg
Suptras Rostock
Ultras Dynamo
Red Kaos
Chosen Few HH
Poptown
Diablos
Inferno Cottbus, Ultima Raka
Wilde Horde
Ultras Hannover
Ultras MG
Szene E
Ultras Braunschweig
Ultras GE
Harlekins Berlin
Natural Born Ultras
Ultras Fürth
Generation Luzifer
Pfalz Inferno
Frenetic Youth
Phoenix Sons, Armata Fidelis
Horda Azzuro
Cosa Nostra
Ulras Mannheim
Filmstadtinferno
Wuhlesyndikat
Boys Bielefeld
Ultras Bochum
Blaue Bomber
Ultras Chemnitz
Saalefront
Wismut Offensive
Ultra` Sankt Pauli
Inferno Lok Leipzig
Ultras Leverkusen
Ultra` Kollektiv
Blue Generation
Violet Crew
Boys Saarbrücken
Commando Ultra`
Red Kaos
Munichmaniacs 1996

Greece:
Thyra 13
Thyra 7
Thyra 21 or Original 21
Thyra 10
Thyra 4
Thyra 3

Hungary:
Ultra Viola Bulldogs
Green Monsters
Commandos
Szívtiprók Ultras Debrecen

Ireland:
SRFC Ultras
Commandos 84
Shed End Invincibles
Briogáid Dearg

Israel:
Green Apes
Ultras 96
Ultras Hapoel

Italy:
Boys Roma Ultras 1972
Fedayn
Ultras Romani
Ultras Roma Primavalle - San Lorenzo
Tradizione Distinzione
Giovinezza
B.I.S.L
Lady B.I.S.L
Brigata De Falchi
Offensiva Ultras
Antichi Valori
Orgoglio Romano
Fronte Romano
S.P.Q.R
Hardcore Ultras
Banda Noantri
Ascoli Piceno Ultras
Settembre Bianconero
Arditi
Warriors
Drughi
Arditi
UTS 1976
Fossa dei Leoni
Brigate Rossonere
Commandos Tigre
Brescia 1911 Curva Nord
Irriducibili
Boys S.A.N
CUCS Roma
Irish Clan
Fedayn
Ultras Tito
Collettivo Autonomo Viola
North Side
Sconvolts
Hooligans Teddy Boys
Friulani Al Seguito
Nord Kaos
Desperados
Vigilantes
Sparuta Minoranza

Japan:
Black and Blue

Korea:
Grande Bleu
Suhoshin

Lithuania:
Pietu IV
Kaunas Ultras
Pirmoji armada
Rude Boys
FCV Sektor
Vakaru frontas
Šiauliu fanai

Macedonia:
Majmuni
Komiti

Malta:
White Warriors
Ultras

Mexico:
La Adicción
La Monumental
La Rebel
Libres y Lokos
Tito Tepito
La Irreverente
Legion 1908

Montenegro:
Varvari

Netherlands:
Varkens 410
Ultras Vak P
Groningen Fanatics
Brigata Tifosi Extreme
Nieuw Noord
Westside Ultras
Legio Noviomagum
Tifosi del Castello
Ultras Mestreech
Brigata Tifosi
Vak 113
F3R

Norway:
Stabæk Inferno
Gjettum Ultras
Viking Ultras
Ultras Nidaros
Sønner av Kadda
Unge Enga
UFC - www.ultrasfeltc.com
KGGsc
Team Scooter

Paraguay:
Mafia Negra
La Pandilla
Ultrasur
Comando
La Plaza
La Raza

Peru:
Comando Svr
Trinchera Norte

Poland:
Nieznani Sprawcy
Opravcy
Wisl@cy '01
Torcida
N@fciarze
Ultras Lech '01
e-Widzew
Ultras Arka
Psycho Fans
Orange City Boys '03
Elite Ultras Group
Netforce
Nabojka
Mlode Wilki
Fuoco Brigade '03
Ultras GieKSa

Portugal:
Juventude Leonina
Torcida Verde
Directivo Ultras XXI
Super Dragões
Colectivo 95
No Name Boys
Diabos Vermelhos
Insane Guys
White Angels
Panteras Negras
Bracara Legion
Red Boys
Mancha Negra
Fúria Azul
South Side Boys
Máfia Vermelha
Tuff Boys

Romania:
Ultras
Nuova Guardia
Guardia Rosso-Nera
Blue Lions
FANS

Russia:
Fratria
Reaktive
United Front

Scotland:
Drum Beat Mafia
The Green Brigade
Red Ultras
The Blue Order

Major Scottish firms:
Aberdeen: ASC
Arbroath: Soccer Crew
Celtic: Celtic Casuals
Dunfirmline Athletic: CSS
Heart of Midlothian: CSF , Hearts 'n' Bluds on Sleeves
Hibernian: CCS , iRISH Brethren
Montrose: No Casuals, Portland Bill Seaside Squad
Motherwell: SS
Glasgow Rangers: ICF
St Johnstone: FCF
St Mirren: Love Street Division

Serbia:
Grobari
Delije
United Force
Red Firm
Taurunum Boys
Despoti

Spain:
Boixos Nois
Frente Atlético
Jove Elx
Ultras Sur
Orgullo Vikingo
Biris Norte
Ligallo Fondo Norte, Colectivo 1932
Ultra Yomus
Riazor Blues
Herri Norte Taldea
Peña Mugika
Supporters Gol Sur
Brigadas Blanquiazules
Celtarras

Sweden:
Hammarby Ultras
Bara Bajare
Söder Bröder
Ultra Boys
Ultras Nord
Sol Invictus
Ultras Göteborg
Helsingborg Hardmongo
Yellow Fanatics
Borås Ultras
Gulsvart Ultras
Inferno Västerås
Fanatics
Peking Ultras
Boys Norrköping
Supras Malmö
Inferno Malmö
Boys Örebro
Royals Örebro
Fabriken Stockholm
UCS
Inferno Örgryte
Gårdapojkarna
Gefle Blue Boys
Västra Läktaren
Fedayn Aspudden
Ultras Rossobianco
Boltic Ultras
Ultras AFF

Turkey:
Genç Fenerbahçeliler
KFY
Grup CK
UNIFEB
Çarsi
AcademY
ultrAslan
Gecekondu
Anti-x
Alkaralar
Yali
KSK Çarsi
Texas
Tatangalar
Hodri Meydan
Nalçacililar
Mekansizlar
07 Gençlik
Sirinler
Çilginlar 38
Kizilcikli-Ayder
Nefer
Yigidolar
Tarzanlar
Çamlik
57 Gençlik

USA/Canada:
Sam's Army
Westside 109
Legion 1908
Triangle Soccer Fanatics
Section 8 Chicago
Centennial Firm
Legion 04
V-Army
Fort Knox
La Barra Brava
Screaming Eagles
La Norte
Fan Club United
Inferno
Texian Army
Mystics
Galaxians
LA Riot Squad
Ultimate Fan Organization
Dark Clouds
Midnight Riders
Timbers Army
Loyalists
Jesters
Rogue Cavaliers Brigade
Empire Supporters Club
Raging Bull Nation
The Crew

Morocco:
Frimija-Winners
Omega-Green boys
Ultras Askari

Ultras:
List of groups:

Brazil
Guarda Popular
Camisa 12
Super FICO

new and emerging ultra groups are the Barnet Massive and enfeild curva.

Source: Absolute Astronomy