What is it to be an Ultra? What is Ultras? Who are they?

It isn't quite that simple.. There are good and bad points.

Who are they?

An Ultra has no name, only good friends know him. An Ultra has no face, most of the time a hood is covering his head, a scarf covering his mouth. An Ultras doesnt dress like others and doesnt follow trends and like the latest. When he walks the streets even though he has no supporter logos he is recognisable. An Ultra attacks if attacked, and helps when needed, they dont stop being ultras as soon as they take their scarf off and return home, they battle 7 days a week.

Ultras are those who stand in the curva in the driving rain, leave at 4pm for a 8pm game down south (or north), spend time and money making banners, organize choreography, pay thousands a year on petrol money, turn up whether for a promotion, relegation or nothing midtable battle. They are true fans... Only the few that unlawfully use football as a vehicle for their own agenda are the ones that drag the "ultra" name down. And they aren't Ultras, they are petty thugs.

What is it to be an Ultra?

Being an ultra is all this and alot more, emotions and passion which you cant explain in words to people who dont wish to understand, and who would rather simply turn their heads and continue living behind glass, people who would never have balls to break that peice of glass and enter our world.

An experienced Ultra leads an example to the youth, the youth have respect for the older Ultra. The young ultras are proud while standing next to someone more experienced, they learn from the critics of the older Ultra, they go red when given a handshake from them. When normal people look at an ultra they dont understand him, but he doesnt want to be understood, or explain what he is about. Every ultra is different: there are those who wear supporter logos or club colours and those who have never had those things in their life. There are those who travel only with their group and those who are individuals and are their own group.

As Janio, The Mancha Verde of Palmeiras says "our ideology is above everything else.we're prepared to abandon our families,leave our jobs,abandon everything to follow our club and defend our flag.Our firm was born to change Palmeiras' history.we were formed to be the best.i find it difficult to believe that there is another firm like ours in the world.Everyone here is dangerous if you mess with us."

In here, some of them have lost their job, extended their semester, sneak out from the office, got a warning letter, failed in exam, got fired even there's a lads who divorced just because he is an ultra.

Ultras are different, but what unites them is their love for their club, their persistance to stay 90 minutes on their feet during the rain or cold, they are united by the warmth from chanting at full voice, united while sleeping in a half-drunk state on a train that is taking them from an away game, united by the convoy through the center of the away teams, united by one sandwich which is shared amongst four of them after many hours of hunger, united by one shared cigarette, united by one look, by one ideal, by a one and only mentality.

All the things which unite us together, at the same time distance us from the rest of the world: from worried parents, from stupefied cousins, from scared school peers or co-workers, and from non-tolerating teachers or boss. Ultras is not vandalism or violence without reason, it is a persistant defence of a way of life, that has now fell in crisis because of social problems, because of stupid televisions, because of discos which attract more and more youth but most of all because of UN-JUSTIFIABLE REPRESSION.

What is ultras?

It was in Italy that the ultras first appeared. The modern face of football support, they encompass all the most extreme elements of terrace culture, from the joyous, jaw dropping beauty of mass choreography to the sickening , stinking reality of murder.

The word ultra in Italian derives from ‘oltre’, which means ‘beyond’-as in beyond the limit. So being an ultra means being prepared to go beyond the limit for your team. It means trying to be the best, always trying to be one step above everybody else. An ultra always goes beyond the limit. Being and ultra is not something you can define. You don’t become an ultra, you are born an ultra.You need to feel the desire inside of you..its not something you can just do, that someone can tell you “ Come along, be an ultra”. No! Its something that you do for your team, or for your friends. Its not a code of honour. Its just the law of the stadium. You go to stadium to support the team you love. So it is not unusual that many things can happen once you are there. If I got into trouble ,if one of my mate gets into trouble then we’re all got trouble. That’s the code that keeps us together. Its like a chain that binds us.

It’s a strong, deep passion; an insane passion. You cant be an ultra unless you’re insane. If you’re not insane, you’ll not going beyond..then you’re not ultra.They combined their wholehearted love of the beautiful game with a territorial passion magnified in intensify by their hot young blood and they soon found out that there’s a fine line between passion and naked violence.

Ultras are sanctioned form of sports team supporters renowned for their fanatical and elaborate displays. The behavorial tendency of ultras groups includes the use of flares primarily in tifo choreography, vocal support in large groups, defiance of the authorities and the display of banners of football stadiums, which are use to create an atmosphere which intimidates opposing players and supporters, as well as encouraging their own team.Consistently rivals with ultras groups are identified with their respective team.

Everybody has to be clear-headed, ready because an ultra got strategies, tactics and a lot things to do during a game. Just to prepare for one important game can take months -Choreography is a kind of super organized terrace support, involving the synchronized chanting, flag-waving, banners unfurling and flare torching of whole stands at a time. As we would see for ourselves, its terrifying and exhilarating to be a part of. That’s the atmosphere that you get at the stadium , the warmth of all those people around you screaming and shouting, chanting for the team. That’s what great about it.

now...its MADE IN MALAYSIA!!!

Being an ultra is something that you get from your roots. From your friends you called family and from people who have learnt how to defend their flag; their colors. Football is what allows you to bring it all together; whether you don’t have money or you are well-off, this is what makes everyone equal once we’re around the same scarf, and lead us to defend our colors together. Ultras don’t think about what is important, they just think about who they are, the flag they represent. If we go to a game you have to demonstrate that you are the best. How do you do that? You have two choices. Singing, support for 90 minutes , fireworks and everything…

For most of the group around the world; violence is an almost evangelical pursuit. And why they kick the shit out of each other, they are really maintaining the true spirit of the game. Because of our position who reckoned to be the first line; a defender for a neutral fans, we have a certain responsibility. We have to apply rules to the violence.For example, we don’t act, we react…toward violence. We don’t start the fight. Of course when it comes to self defense we’re all ready to defend ourselves. We’re not here to look for trouble but if we need to defend ourselves then we’re all ready for it. Like everyone else if you ‘re attacked , you defend yourself, right?

Its not all bout violence,that their displays, choreography putting on a show for the opposition were an integral part of their make up but we wanted to know just how important the violence was too.Its not just about kicking off, however. Their role encompasses all dimensions of fanatical support and if that includes the violent side, it also includes the passionate, but generally peaceful as well as those who aren’t specifically looking for trouble at all.

In terms of any violence that may sometimes take place (e.g a random brawl with Yemenis in 2009) this is because of too much love; love for th team and the colours. And so in certain situations we will do what has to be done. What do you expect a neutral fans with kids and women would do if there’s a riot may take in? If we have to fight somebody we will fight them and be proud of this. Because other than coreo’s and chants, this is how we honor the colours. People may object this, and it is perfectly right that they should do so. But we are conscious that the fight is the ultimate conclusion of what we’re about, it’s the most beautiful things because it’s the one determined by our heart.

Football as it stands today is disgusting but there are those who still maintainand pass the real passion of the game.Hope to see this culture expand here in this country because honestly, I'm getting dead bored of the bland spirit that envelopes this already deflated football environment of this once great footballing nation.

For those who have been involved, no explanation is necessary. For those who haven't, no explanation is possible.

-Freddie-