As most of us already know, Ultras is the name football fanatics in Europe and South America call themselves. They’re fans who dedicate much of their time in arranging for during-game shows as well as organising trips to follow their clubs wherever and whenever they play.
Ultras’ unconditional support to their clubs also includes the use of flares and massive banners in choreographic forms. All this sounds great. It means more support for our clubs, better scenes in our stands and a whole modern look to Egyptian football.
Personally, I was one of the first people to praise the introduction of fan clubs in Egypt. Popular clubs like Ahli, Zamalek and Ismaili needed to have official bodies representing their fans, organizations which would give these fans a larger opportunity to support their clubs.
However, it’s very important to understand that in the west, where the term was invented, being an ultra is not all about adoring your club.
Sometimes being an ultra can go as far as hating your opponents, causing havoc whenever your team plays away from home, and even engaging in violent clashes with the oppositions’ fans. And I really wonder if this is what Egyptian football needs?
On several occasions in Italy, Spain and Turkey, fans were killed and taken to hospitals as a result of fights between opposing ultras or between ultras and Police.
This is totally different from what was once called hooliganism, but still, it is dangerous enough to jeopardise the safety of fans, players and football itself.
I understand that the situation here is nowhere near that yet. But unfortunately, recent incidents are showing that the Egyptian ultras phenomenon is starting to take a turn in the wrong direction.
Recent clashes between Zamalek and Ismaili fans, what happened during the Ismaili – Ahli game, and the continuous push and pull between the Cairo police and Ahli’s ultras prior to every big game isn’t a good indication to what can happen in the future.
I don’t have anything personal towards any of the Egyptian ultras groups. I also strongly believe that whatever they do in their private lives is none of my or anyone else’s business as long as it doesn’t negatively affect the game itself.
But what I’m asking for is that our fans should fully understand what ultras really stand for. In Europe, an ultra is someone who loves his club to death but is also above the law on many occasions and racist on others. So you can’t proudly call yourself an ultra then expect everyone to be happy with your presence.
Egyptian ultras say they just love the game and stand behind the clubs. And for now we should believe them, but I fear that what started as a football trend might well end with bad consequences.