The Ultras Groups Fighting Back Against Fascism in Football

High-profile displays by Celtic’s ‘Green Brigade’ ultras group over the last month have reinvigorated the debate over sport and politics. The Glasgow group have been vocal in their support for the people of Palestine, a united Ireland, and anti-fascist politics, most recently away at Dortmund in the Champions League. While the bold tactics of the ‘GB’ grab all the headlines, many clubs have similar groups among their supporters. From grassroots to giants, organised anti-fascist action on the terraces of Europe and beyond has seen significant growth in recent years, so who are the ultras groups driving this growth?

Left-wing politics in football is certainly nothing new, whether it be fierce support for striking miners from the likes of Liverpool, Sheffield United, and Barnsley, or the overt socialist beliefs of Brazil’s 1982 World Cup-winning captain, Socrates. However, the recent growth and success of far-right groups in Europe has pushed many supporters to resist, and do so through increasingly organised means. The ‘Bukaneros’ ultras of Madrid’s often-forgotten third club, Rayo Vallecano, show enormous pride in their politics, with frequent displays protesting both the commercialisation of Spanish football and the links between local titans Real Madrid and the fascist Franco regime. The high-profile racial abuse of Bilbao winger Nico Williams in April by sections of Atletico Madrid supporters prompted the Bukaneros to stand in solidarity with their Basque counterparts, proudly displaying a banner reading “football against racism”. It is no surprise therefore that fans of Athletic Club de Bilbao are similarly radical, combining their Basque nationalism with vibrant displays against fascism.

While the most famous groups belong to the elite clubs of Europe and South America, organised anti-fascism in football has stretched even to the tenth tier of English football, with Clapton CFC. Any trip to the Old Spotted Dog Ground in East London will show that supporters of the community-owned club are proud of their values. The Spanish Civil War slogan "¡No pasarán!" is a frequent sight on ‘Brigada Ultra Clapton’ banners and placards, celebrating the success of Jewish Londoners and anti-fascists in driving Oswald Mosely out of East London at the Battle of Cable Street. In the spirit of those who fought Mosely’s blackshirts in 1936, Clapton CFC fans continue to oppose racism today, uniting community members against this Summer’s far-right protests. Grassroots antifascism is not limited to England either, with French fourth-tier side SR Colmar and Spanish fifth-tier side Centre d’Esports Manresa, among others, having sizeable anti-fascist presence amongst their fanbase.

Anti-fascist action in football operates even where it is against the norm, and the former champions of East Germany, Dynamo Dresden, are a fascinating example. Dresden has been described as a “bastion’ of the far-right” by the BBC, with the recent electoral success of the hard-right Alternative für Deutschland in Saxony doing nothing to help its reputation. Displays of Nazi iconography by supporters and even staff of the club have not deterred resistance by opposing groups however. Left-leaning fans of Dynamo have sought to combat the racism of their peers through graffiti and other covert action, forming a “Love Dynamo, Hate Racism” campaign. Such anti-racist action is common in German football, with Dynamo Berlin and Hamburg outfit St. Pauli having sections that pride themselves on their anti-racism. While German left-wing ultras, especially those of St Pauli, have become isolated from other European groups due to tensions over the war in Palestine, Germany remains a hotbed of anti-fascism in football.

Palestine has become a rallying point for fanbases across the world to unite around. The ongoing bombardment of Gaza by the IDF, which has killed up to 180,000 Palestinians according to The Lancet, has been loudly opposed on terraces from Celtic Park to CR Flamengo’s Maracanã stadium. Support for Palestinian liberation in football goes beyond just flags and banners, however. Celtic’s Green Brigade, for example, fund and manage Lajee Celtic, a football academy located in the West Bank’s Aida Refugee Camp. Meanwhile, Chilean side CD Palestino, the winners of the 2018 Copa Chile, were founded in 1920 by Palestinian migrants and continue to advocate for the rights of people in the region.

“Keep football and politics separate” is a common phrase heard on social media whenever schemes such as Rainbow Laces or Kick It Out are mentioned, but the anti-fascist ultras groups of global football expose the flaws in this idea. When fascism rears its ugly head, it does so whilst trying to feign relatability. As evidenced by this summer’s riots, the far-right aim to recruit in football circles, and the counter-narrative provided by a vocal anti-racist presence is vitally important to prevent this.