The avid and sometimes violent football fans have taken their show from stadiums to streets, as well as making an appearance on the political scene, Inas Mazhar reports Suddenly, everybody is against the Ultras. Overnight, they became no longer those who introduced new ways of supporting football clubs and who bring a cheerful atmosphere to the stadiums, or even those who participated in the peaceful marches and demonstrations at the beginning of the Egyptian uprising. Today, the Ultras are synonymous with damage and destruction to public and private property. As such, the Ultras now find themselves accused, unwanted and severely criticised. Ultras are known of being anti-media, their justification being that it is a rule not to speak to the media. But these days they have had to come out, or at least some of their leaders, not to promote their group but to defend themselves and claim not guilty. For the past week the Ultras, to be precise, the supporters of the famed local football team Ahli, have been linked to the riots that erupted at the Ahli versus Kima Club of Aswan game in an FA Cup match at Cairo Stadium in Nasr City, attacking police, before moving on outside to set cars on fire and ransack shops along the famous Salah Salem road. Two days later they were accused of attacking both the Ministry of Interior and the Israeli embassy. They were also seen joining the families of those killed in the revolution at the trials of the former president Hosni Mubarak and other state officials. Though reports and videos showed the Ultras donning the club's red shirt and waving the red flags, attacking the Ministry of Interior on Friday and then the Israeli embassy that same day, some Ultras leaders denied either being there or encouraging their members to go there. Ultras members Mohamed Marei, Mohamed Tarek, Ahmed Khaled and Mahmoud Abdallah appeared with TV talk show host Amr Adib, having answers to everything. They explained that they had to move from the stadiums to the streets of Egypt especially Tahrir to defend their colleagues who were arrested at the stadium event. They insist, though, that they left Tahrir Square at 6.30pm and called on their followers to go home. A video showed Marei, who was carried on shoulders, urging his colleagues to leave, saying "We're done today. Go home." "Tahrir Square is the only place where people can hear us. But everybody is against us," said Marei. Mohamed Tarek, another leader in the group, said they had no intention to step into the political scene until the police attacked them in the match. "Before that, political participation was a personal choice among the members." Tarek did not deny that the Ultras swore against the former officials of the country and the police but denied attacking army soldiers and officers in the stadium or the report that they threw plastic bags of urine over them. They also denied being involved in riots outside the stadium, but videos belonging to the police showed otherwise. "They were chasing us so how could we be running at them?" Marei asked. Tarek and Marei believe they were punished because they swore against the former regime. "It's strange. Why were they [army and police] provoked? Why would anybody in general be upset if the fans or the public insult, criticise or swear against the former regime." Former goalkeeper Nader El-Sayed confirmed Marei's story and the rest of the leaders. "It's true... I'm not defending them but I was there with them and we all gathered at a café in downtown Lazoughli. We don't know who was there in front of the Ministry of Interior or at the embassy. The real attackers have to be found. No one approves of these actions," El-Sayed told Al-Ahram Weekly. To be sure, Lazoughli is close to the Ministry of Interior so there is a possibility that some decided to head there instead of the café. Another leader, Mahmoud Abdallah, admitted differences among the Ultras. "We all share in the support for our team, but politically we are different and that's normal. Some are with and others are against what's been happening in the country in the last few months." Even when the TV show showed the Ultras videos of the attacks, they denied knowing the attackers. However, as Marei said, the number of the group is so huge there could have been other Ahli fans. The Egyptian Football Association President Samir Zaher expressed his fears and security concerns over the growing violence of the Ultras in stadiums since it was not the first time a riot has broken out, even before the Egypt revolution. The EFA is trying to find solutions to the problem which could threaten the national league tournament which is due to start next month. The Olympic Games qualification tournament is also scheduled to kick off in Egypt on 26 September. The denials of the Ultras is puzzling. If it wasn't the Ultras, who was it? Whatever the answer, there is no denying that the Ultras have become a powerful, sometimes dangerous force that shouldn't be underestimated. Just as important, Egyptian Ultras have yet to win everybody over. Ultras are predominantly European and South American followers of football teams who invaded Egypt with various names -- the Ultras of the Ahli club, White Knights of Zamalek, Yellow Dragons of Ismaili, Masri's Green Eagles and Ultras 300, supporters of Tanta. The biggest and most impressive are the backers of Ahli, Zamalek and Ismaili. "Ultras" is a Latin word derived from "beyond" in English, with the implication that their enthusiasm is "beyond" the normal, a form of sports team supporters renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. The behavioural tendency of Ultras includes the use of flares, primarily in tifo choreography, vocal support in large groups, defiance of the authorities and the display of banners at football stadiums, used to create an atmosphere which intimidates opposing players and supporters, as well as encouraging their own team. Consistently rivals with opposing supporters, Ultras are often identified with their respective team. Since the early 1990s, the Ultras subculture has increasingly become similar in style to hooliganism. Violent acts of hooliganism by groups of Ultras have led to some deaths, as have police reprisals. The Ahli Ultras were introduced almost five years ago. The group felt they needed to improve the club's support bloc. They began with less than 10 members and now the number is "unlimited" according to one Ultras leader, Marei. Ultras of Egypt, especially the leaders, are very well educated and come from high-class families. They have been exposed to Ultras in Europe and are trying to copy what can be applied in Egypt. They are not media-friendly people. "They don't talk about themselves but deliver their message of loving their teams through their strong support in the stands," says sports critic Amr Kamal. Ultras groups are usually based around a core group (who tend to have executive control over the whole group), with smaller subgroups organised by location, friendship or political stance. They tend to use various styles and sizes of banners and flags with the name and symbols of the group. Some Ultras sell their own merchandise such as scarves, hats and jackets. The Ultras culture is a mix of several supporting styles, including scarf-waving and chanting. An Ultras group can number from a handful of fans to hundreds and thousands, and often claim entire sections of a stadium to themselves. Ahli Ultras are usually located behind the goals in the West stands whereas the White Knights are based at the East end. Karim "Kiko" is one of the founding members of Ultras of Ahli. He spoke to the Weekly once before and asked not to be identified by his full name. "Ultras around the world have core points and we here in Egypt have the same," says Karim: "never stop singing or chanting during a match, no matter what the result; never sit down during a match; and attend as many games as possible [home and away], regardless of cost or distance." "We bear all the expenses from donations from members of the groups. We sell our products -- T-shirts, scarves, caps -- among ourselves to raise money to help us in our support." The Egyptian media, as well as some spectators and officials, have in many cases not taken the Ultras to heart. They criticise -- or perhaps envy -- them for having a good relationship with the teams, for never sitting during matches and for displaying banners and flags which hinder the view of those sitting behind them. Others point to the Ultras' physical assaults and the intimidation of non-Ultras fans. The anti-Ultras sentiment intensifies in many football matches and other sports events as well. Egyptian Ultras have always been trying to clear up the misconceptions, more so now. "Some believe we are evil people, hooligans, have no morals, violent and lack patriotism," Karim said. "But we are not. We are loyal fans to our club and to the national team."
