Football Hooligans

File:Russian Hooligans.jpg

The Ultras, a Russian hooligan gang.

Football Hooligans are a large collection of criminals/thugs who have become associated with European and Latin American football (sometimes called Soccer in America) - the term has been around for several decades and the phenomena is a deeply-rooted part of the sport, though many clubs have started to tackle the culture as it promotes violent crime and rioting.

Football Hooligans merge the act of supporting one's "team" with hooliganism, the practice of engaging in mass fights, lawless riots and general disruption of order - most Hooligans wait until after a match to engage in mass brawls but some will attack and ruin games, throwing items at players, waving hate-symbols and inciting others to violence.

Football Hooligans are notorious and greatly focused on in the media, though some criticize this (much as they do coverage of anarchists) as giving thugs "free publicity". Some hooligans do not like media coverage and will attack and threaten anyone who attempts to film them.

Infamous Football Hooligans include the Hibs Casuals and the Chelsea football gangs, who developed the torture known as the "Chelsea Smile" (a variant of the Glasgow Smile) - despite their infamy in Britain these hooligans are considered "tame" compared to some hooligans from other parts of Europe and Latin America, who have invented many ways to cause havoc.

Football Hooligans are associated with the stereotypical "thug" culture and are sometimes referred to as "Yobs" (though the term "Yob" can also be applied to roaming gangs of thugs, such as those who engage in "Happy Slapping" style attacks)

Not all hooligan violence is directly related to the game itself. Many hooligan firms have political affiliations which define their rivalries. For instance, FC Barcelona's Boixos Nois, like many fans of the team, are Catalan separatists while their rivals Ultras Sur of Real Madrid are Spanish unionists, and often use Catalan and Spanish flags respectively both to express their own beliefs and to inflame their rivals. A similar dynamic exists in Scotland between Irish nationalist Celtic Soccer Crew and British unionist Rangers Inner City Firm.

Notable hooligan organizations

Western and Central Europe

UK

• Chelsea Headhunters (Chelsea)
• Men in Black (Manchester United)
• Herd (Arsenal)
• Yid Army (Tottenham Hotspur)
• Zulu Warriors (Birmingham City)
• Hibs Casuals/Capital City Service (Hibernian)
• Inner City Firm (Rangers)
• Celtic Soccer Crew (Celtic)
• Section B (Airdrieonians)

Germany

• Northside (Borussia Dortmund)
• HooNaRa (Chemnitzer)

Netherlands

• F-side (Ajax)
• SCF Hooligans (Feyenoord)

Eastern Europe

Russia

• Gladiators Firm 96 (Spartak Moscow)
• Landskrona (Zenit St Petersburg)

Poland

• Sharks (Wisla Krakow)
• Jude Gang (Cracovia)
• Stilon Fighters (Stilon Gorzow Wielkopolski)

Greece

• Gate 13 (Panathinaikos)
• Gate 4 (PAOK)
• Original 21 (AEK)

Southern Europe

Spain

• Boixos Nois (FC Barcelona)
• Ultras Sur (Real Madrid)
• Ultras Yomus (Valencia)
• Herri Norte Taldea (Athletic Bilbao)

Italy

• Irriducibili (Lazio)
• Viking Juve (Juventus)
• Brigate Autonomi Livornesi (Livorno)

Latin America

Argentina

• Borrachos del Tablon (River Plate)
• La 12 (Boca Juniors)

Chile

• Garra Blanca (Colo-colo)
• Los de Abajo (Universidad de Chile)