The Ultra culture in Balkans

George Orwell once said Football is like war minus the shooting.

Well, the Balkans are story of football with the shooting. These are the incidents of the Ultras who went from fighting each others on the terraces, to fighting one another on the front line, in a bloody civil war which engulfed the former Yugoslavia for years..

It all started in the Industrial city and now capital of Croatia, Zagreb.

Stadion Maksimir, the stadium which does not look like much, which also plays hosts to Dinamo Zagreb, opened up a war portal, in a country then divided by ideologies, Yugoslavia.

In May 1990, the former Yugoslavia was on brink of a civil war, nationalism between the two republics Croatia and Serbia, was at its pinnacle. As the political parties were about to explode, one of the biggest matches of the Yugoslav football season, between Red Star Belgrade and Dinamo Zagreb took place.

Dinamo Zagreb represented the hardcore Croatian republic whereas Red Star Belgrade represented the Serbian nationalists. Rock, stones and even acids were used against one another in a event that looked more like a war rather than a football match. This was not just ,Dinamo vs Red Star, it was Croatia vs Serbia.

It all started with the Red Star Ultras tearing up the seats and singing Serbian Nationalist Chants such as ai???Zagreb is Serbianai??? and ai???We’ll kill Tudmanai???.The Dinamo Ultras sitting on the opposite end took into their hands to inflict pain upon the Serbs who were trying to demolish their home ground. What started next was an all out war. The Dinamo Ultras much injected with Nationalism started an all out attack on Red Star Ultras and the Police, who mainly consisted of Serbs. Flares, Acids, Kicks, Punches and even Shoes were used as the main weapons of assault.

The defining 'fight' — The defining ‘fight’

What is more shocking is that, apart from the Ultras, the Dinamo Zagreb players got involved in the conflict. When a Dinamo fan was lying on the ground and being beaten by police batons, Dinamo’s Captain Zvonimir Boban extracted revenge by kicking the officers.

Interviewed later on his action, Boban replied ai???Here I was, a public face prepared to risk his life, career and everything that fame could have brought, all because of one cause, one ideal, the Croatian causeai??? . Boban’s kick was a symbolic moment as it marked, the beginning of the end for Yugoslavia. Unfortunately Football hooliganism was a political event and one of the defining points of both the nations.

In a country already on the brink of fission, football provided the sucker punch. A year later it wasn’t punches and kicks that were being exchanged, it was gunfire and grenades, as Croatia and Serbia went to war. In an utter display of nationalism, the Ultras signed up for their armies and took their battle to the front lines. The civil war lasted over 4years, with over 15,000 casualties and ended resulting in Croatia and Serbia both being separate Countries.

It is quite evident that the Ultras are the top boys even now in these two countries. We take a look at some of the most infamous Ultras of the Balkans.

Torcida (Hajduk Split)

Formed in the 1950s, Torcida are one of the most ancient Ultra groups in Europe. Torcida are known for their infamous reputation, causing trouble at almost every game. They are so hated in parts of Croatia that it is common for their bus to be shot at, in trips to away games. The large banner choreography, the flares and the pyros are common in Stadion Paljon, which plays hosts to Hajduk Split.

The fanatical group are so delinquent, that ravish their opposing Ultras with physical violence. In 1961, a referee was attacked after disallowing a Hajduk Goal. In 1974, former Yugoslav army had abandon the stadium after the Ultras went berzerk and injured almost 40 officers. In 1988, Hajduk was banned from European Competitions for three years after the Ultras rioted in Marseille. In 1990, pitch invasion by the Torcida in an attempt to attack Partizan Belgrade players. In 2001, riots against arc-rivals Dinamo Zagreb. Even in 2012, 180 Torcida members were arrested in Zagreb for causing trouble, in Croatia vs England.

In an attempt to control the city, Torcida have their name on every street lamp and have a proper, proper office right in the center of ‘Split’. Moreover they bring the small city of Split together and are often dubbed as ‘The Heartbeat of Split’. The phrase ai???If I had two lives, I’ll give them both to youai??? was a famous Torcida chant in the 1950s.

Hailing from a club with no pedigree, be it domestically or in Europe, The Torcida provide the fan base and much needed vocal support to the Team still struggling in the lower divisions.

Bad Blue Boys (Dinamo Zagreb)

The Bad Blue Boys have a passion for fighting

In a recent interview conducted by English Media, the interviewer asked the Ultra Leader on his thoughts about fighting.

With a wicked smile, the top dog replied ai??? It’s my passion, its the same feeling as having sex……………….with two girlsai???

Formed in 1986, the Bad Blue Boys have a direct say in the daily running of the club, as without them there would be no fan support given to the team. Attending each and every match, be it Home or away, the Bad Blue Boys started the ‘orchestrator culture’. The orchestrator culture is focused on one man called as the orchestrator, it is upto him to conduct the vocal support from the Ultras. The orchestrator often does not see the entire game, with his back towards the game, facing the ultras and armed with a Loudspeaker. It is his job to see that every Ultra is singing or not, he is also responsible for the chants that are sung by the Ultras. This culture impressed European Ultras so much, that groups from Italy and even Germany, appointed an orchestrator. In Stadiums of 10,000s, only 2,000 Ultras can generate such an atmosphere that it will make the team feel that they are playing with house full.

Dinamo Zagreb are known for their radical support, varying in two extremes. The support group are responsible for physical violence inflicted by them on their own players as well as clashes with the police and other Ultra groups. In 2000, they clashed with Italian Police in Milan which resulted in over 50 arrests and 100 injuries on both sides. There have been incidences that the Ultra groups have smashed up cars of their own club players and even thrown around a few punches on them. In one hilarious training ground incident, over 50 Bad Blue Boys infiltrated the training ground and told the players to strip as they believed that these players did not deserve to wear the club colors. When Club president decided to change the name from Dinamo Zagreb to Croatia Zagreb, the Ultras set fire to his presidential box, in one of the most disturbing events in Croatian Football.

Dinamo Zagreb are one of the famous European club sides and their Ultras are one of the most notorious groups in all of Europe. The Bad Blue Boys have revolutionized the way these Ultra Groups are treated and have become a respected part of the Dinamo club, especially after their sole support for the club and their streak for violence which was highlighted in various incidents.

Grobari (Partizan Belgrade)

What happens when you mix some of the most fanatical support groups with guns? Grobari. Translated as Grave Diggers in English, Grobari are known for the death of almost 200 member in events involving use of live ammo. They are the epitome of violence conducting machine. The Ultras do not care about the football, they attend matches to fight. In several cases there have been outbreaks even before the match has started. In a horrifying incident, the Grobari started throwing flares and stones on the opposite set of Red Star Belgrade fans which included families. In 1999, a shooting flare was fired from the Partizan end towards to Red Star end which resulted in the death of man. In 2000, one of the most disturbing events took place, as thousands of fans invaded the pitch and started a large scale mass brawl. In 2007 they were banned and disqualified from European Football after riots against Zrinjski Mostar.

The Balkans are a perfect example of the violence which is still injected into the Footballing culture. The hatred that these Ultra groups have for each other is worrying and scary. While reading articles, mostly translated into English from Serbian/Croatian transcripts, it dawned upon me that there can be no better example of Ultra Power stronghold than the Balkans. Moreover there can be no better or no crucial rivalry apart from Red Star Belgrade and Dinamo Zagreb. Man United ai??i?? Liverpool, Juventus ai??i?? Inter Milan and Barcelona ai??i?? Real Madrid, look like mere mortals when compared to the rivalry that was the start of a civil war. The football is as significant as the Wembley, Camp Nou or The Marracana has ever seen, though it lacks quality. It is evident, that even now the Ultra Power remains the force to reckon with in these two countries.

Click Here to read about The ‘Ultra’ Culture in Italy

Click Here to read about The ‘Ultra’ Culture in Turkey

Tags: ultras