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
| Stadium | Club | Name |
| Estádio do Dragão | FC Porto | - Super Dragões - Colectivo Ultras 95 |
| Estádio do Bessa | Boavista FC | - Panteras Negras |
| Estádio da Luz | SL Benfica | - Diabos Vermelhos - No Name Boys |
| Estádio José Alvalade | Sporting CP | - Juventude Leonina - Torcida Verde - Directivo Ultras XXI - Brigada Ultras Sporting |
| Estádio D. Afonso Henriques | Vitória 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.
| Stadium | Club | Name |
| Cairo International Stadium | Al Ahly SC | - Ultras Ahlawy - Ultras Devils |
| Cairo International Stadium | Zamalek SC | - Ultras White Knights |
| Port Said Stadium | Al-Masry SC | - Ultras Green Eagles |
| Suez Stadium | Suez Montakhab | - Ultras Suez Fedyan |
| Ghazl El Mahalla Stadium | Ghazl El Mahalla SC | - Ultras Whales 2008 |
| Ismailia Stadium | Ismaily SC | - Ultras Yellow Dragons - Ultras Rebels |
| Alexandria Stadium | Al 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.
| Stadium | Club | Name |
| Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata | East Bengal F.C. | East Bengal Ultras |
| Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata | East Bengal F.C. | East Bengal the Real Power |
| Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata | Mohun Bagan A.C. | Mariners’ Base Camp |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium | Kerala Blasters FC | Manjappada |
| Kalinga Stadium | Odisha FC | The Juggernauts |
| Sree Kanteerava Stadium | Bengaluru FC | West Block Blues |
| Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium | Northeast United FC | Highlander Brigade |