Perceptions of Football Ultras

THOMA GOL · Jan 28, 2013

I am conducting research to include those who follow the global game we love. This is for a research paper on the topic of the perception of ultras. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

1. As it relates to global football, what is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the term 'ultras'?

2. Do you feel that ultras are important to the matchday atmosphere of the stadium? Why or why not?

3. Ultras have been portrayed as hooligans due to various factors. Do you feel that being labeled as hooligan is justified?

4. How can ultras be perceived in a more positive light in lieu of media and/or societal negative perceptions of ultras?

5. Could the sport function without ultras? Why or why not?

Guigs · Mar 5, 2013

THOMA GOL said: ↑

I am conducting research to include those who follow the global game we love. This is for a research paper on the topic of the perception of ultras. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

1. As it relates to global football, what is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the term 'ultras'?

Depends on the Country

Depends on the team

Depends on their reputation

Certain countries are known to have more violent hooligan types, other have almost military like wings of a football team. Some Countries their Ultras have become so large they are an entity in itself, they have memberships, membership fees, organize travels to away games, re-sell tickets for the team and even have their own gear for sale so people can buy and look like them. The case in Brazil being the latter, where most "torcidas organizadas" became a club in itself, with Gavioes de Fiel for example becoming even a samba school and competing in Carnival parades in Sao Paulo.

Certain teams are known to have more active Ultras and a bigger and more active crowd.

Certain Ultras hold serious reputations regardless of how big or small of a team they cheer for.

2. Do you feel that ultras are important to the matchday atmosphere of the stadium? Why or why not?

They are very important to the atmosphere of the stadium, considering it's what they create, but at what price for the clubs? a lot of ultras in Brazil do not pay for their admission tickets, and they make a huge spectacle during the games, but they also make it unsafe for families to take their kids into the games. Way I see it, teams are losing both ways there.

3. Ultras have been portrayed as hooligans due to various factors. Do you feel that being labeled as hooligan is justified?

Depends on the situations, if they are acting like so.. yes.

4. How can ultras be perceived in a more positive light in lieu of media and/or societal negative perceptions of ultras?

Distancing themselves from hooliganism, problem is every time one of their more militant wings causes riots or gets involved in hooliganism, they will be protected rather than exposed by the ultras. Which in turn gives them a bad rep.

5. Could the sport function without ultras? Why or why not?
Click to expand...

Yes, look at american sports. No ultras here and they make more money and are more successful than any other league. MLB, NFL, NBA, Nascar, college football and even the NHL have no ultras and do a better job at selling their seats than most Football leagues, Bundesliga and EPL being the only 2 that can compete, yet they are not even close to the NFL, College Football or MLB.

Krokko · Mar 6, 2013

THOMA GOL said: ↑

I am conducting research to include those who follow the global game we love. This is for a research paper on the topic of the perception of ultras. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

1. As it relates to global football, what is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the term 'ultras'?

2. Do you feel that ultras are important to the matchday atmosphere of the stadium? Why or why not?

3. Ultras have been portrayed as hooligans due to various factors. Do you feel that being labeled as hooligan is justified?

4. How can ultras be perceived in a more positive light in lieu of media and/or societal negative perceptions of ultras?

5. Could the sport function without ultras? Why or why not?
Click to expand...

Ultras is originally an Italian word coming from the political vocabulary (where it means 'extremist' more or less). Here they are considered the 'patological' part of what is called 'tifo' ('support'). I personally think that the ultras have ruined the atmosphere in the Italian stadiums. In the 70s/80s they were perhaps 10-20% of the people in the stands, and even ultras like Roma's CUCS ('Comando Ultras Curva Sud', left-wing) were often good-humoured and funny. Problems started when 90% of ultras became right-wing during the 90s, and racism became an integral part of it all.

Football needs it fans and fans MUST be allowed to make big noise, to use bengals, flags etc: without it, the sport becomes an antiseptic experience. But the fascist elements must be isolated from the rest of the fans if we don't want or stadiums as grim and empty as the Italian ones.

In Sweden I must say the atmosphere is usually very good, despite the extremely low quality of our league (13 years without Swedish teams in the CL!). Even when the game - as it usually does - sucks, people have a good time singing, waving their flags and occasionally using some pyrotechnique (the clubs pay the fines, of course). But there's no political extremism or racism in it, so I guess you can't call the people in the stands ultras.