Taiming of the ultras

January 29th, 2009 | by: Tamim |

Since the Torcida of Hajduk split in the 1950s and the ultras have been invading many parts of the world and has been equally fought by police but the phenomenon just keeps on surviving and even gets stronger; however, it seems that their history will be short in egypt.

ultras started with two groups Ultras Ahlawy following Al Ahly team and Ultras White Knights following Zamalek; a long stirring debate is ongoing between both groups about who was established first.

After them shortly, Ultras Yellow Dragons wee formed following Ismaily then more groups were formed even in the second division.

The concept was new to Egyptians in general including journalists and police; they thought at first that they were like fans unions, where ultras developed from, until they made their presence noticed in a number of occasions.

Their effort to change the supporting culture in the stands is undeniable; ultras introduced chants for the first time, brought large flags, made choreographies and tifos but they brought violence as well.

They revolutionized the look of the fans in the stadium and made beautiful work like this

Ultras then became noticed and newspapers started to write about them but still journalists didn’t get the full picture of what it means to be ultras and they never thought that things may exceed showing passion for the team in a beautiful organized way.

Because their establishment was influenced by European ultras groups especially those of Italy as well as North African ultras groups like those in morocco and Tunisia. Egyptian ultras started to imitate their violent actions and dirty chants.

Of course fans have always exchanged insults in stadiums but ultras took these insults to another level using racist chants in some cases like Shikabala who was attacked for the whole 90 minutes during one of the derbies because of being black.

They took advantage of the absence of heavy security in basket ball matches for example and engaged in serious violence destroying stadiums and even causing injuries among fans like the Zamalek fan who was burned and was taken to hospital after being attacked by a group of Ultras Ahlawy.

We started to see riots outside stadiums after matches in which cars were damaged, pedestrians were intimidated and fans were injured; things we only saw on TV in European matches.

This year the ultras’ violence was extremely boosted and we ended up watching scenes like this

this

And this

These scenes as well as a heavy media campaign from former Ahly goal keeper and EFA vice president Ahmed Shobeir in his sports show in Al Hayat satellite channel showing videos of ultras members taking drugs and drinking Alcoholics, he even went to accusing them of atheisms!!!, brought serious attention to these groups and they were stigmatized.

They became unwanted and their very existence became threatened.

In England, heavy procedures were taken to get rid of hooligans and they were largely successful; in Italy, laws were made to make life harder for ultras after the repeated incidents of violence there but still ultras still exist there and there banners and flags can still be seen.

In Egypt, the case was different. Prior to the Cairo derby between Ahly and Zamalek the police assaulted cafes were ultras members usually hold their meetings, arrested large numbers of them and released them after the game after signing official documents promising that they won’t engage in violence in stadiums again.

During the game itself, Cairo stadium saw strict and I mean strict security procedures in which the fans were checked firmly and everything was banned from flags to food even those who had red or white t-shirts were banned from entering with it because they were suspected to be ultras!!!

The stadium was equipped with security cameras and secret service were scattered throughought the stands to catch trouble makers; the result was that the ultras were absent and there banners disappeared.

Another heavy security campaign was launched for seizing the tools ultras use like flares and smoke bombs from the markets.

The crackdown on the ultras led them to defend themselves and they started to appoint media spokespersons who appeared in the media using a nicer language and pledging that they will stop the violence.

We have now an Egyptian model for how to get rid of ultras which I know isn’t applicable in all countries, the same way that we shouldn’t imitate everything we see because violence is dangerous and useless.

It will be interesting to see if the ultras will survive or they will vanish?!!

I only wish if people supported the national team with the same enthusiasm instead of the empty stands we see in the national team matches!!!