X-ray of the ultra world in Spanish football: Increasingly violent and reinventing their name

“In fact, there has been an increase in post-pandemic events” They approve from the Supreme Sports Council (CSD). He is one of the members of the National Commission against Violence in Sports Performances (known as the Commission Against Violence), the body that manages the safety points in Spanish football. And the numbers show that even though these events are “low”, there is indeed a point.Increase compared to pre-pandemic: “The total number of sanction proposals for the 2018-2019 season reached 1,207, and in the 2021-2022 season, it reached 1,579. The 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons were affected by the closure of the matches.” or with limited capacity.

Ultras are returning to their old days in Spanish stadiums. Although not a scenario similar to that which occurred in the late 80s and the entire decade of the 90s (ultra-groups displaying Nazi symbols in the stands and areas donated by clubs to store their banners in the stadium.), the number of incidents involving radicals from football teams increased after the pandemic. Whether in the fields or on the outskirts of stadiums.

“When we collect around 1,200 incident reports in an entire season, we can consider it a bad season. In the last one, 2021/22, We’re close to 1,600. Police sources told this newspaper that we have not finished the current season yet, but we believe that we will close with similar figures.” Combating Violence CommissionAlso where is it located League, RFEFProsecutor’s Office and Ministry of Internal Affairs. All of them were contacted to take an X-ray of a growing problem in our country.

MODEL CHAMPIONSHIP

Go ahead, all parties consulted agreed to define Spanish football as: “example” in terms of violence compared to other upcoming championships. “We are no longer far from the levels of violence in places like Poland or Russia, we are in much better shape than other closer and more important leagues. we are a role model“They call this paper from LaLiga, which is one of the few departments of the commission that has opened its doors for face-to-face interviews.

They insist on “continuous training with security guards” and insist that other championships be recommended from Spain on the security initiatives implemented. “In terms of technology, we have nothing to be jealous of a big tech company,” they sum up. From the site, they provided the following data on ‘chants, domain invasions and object throwing complaints’:

We set an example, but events are increasing. Conflicting versions. What, then, is the minute and outcome of the ultranational world? Is there more violence in Spanish football now? “Violence is not created, it is transformed. The concept of ‘violence’ has been reconsidered. Now xenophobic or homophobic insults are prosecuted and punished. There are no more occupations,” said the prosecutor’s office, another agent of the Commission. Your pitch is like it was in the 80s. The effect of a flare in 1992″.

After these events, the existing law was amended, already designing homophobic or xenophobic insults in the sanctions catalogue. The club can be punished by closing the stadium, with fines of up to 60,000 euros for perpetrators. However, ultra groups did not stop working, although some were kicked out of their stadiums. real Madrid And Barcelona They were pioneers in kicking hooligans out of their stands. Celta de Vigo joined. However, the relevant groups continued their activities underground: ” Ultra Sur, For example, they’ve been out since Florentino Pérez arrived, they’re still active, and they set up their typhoid before matches in Marceliano Santamaría, one of the streets of the Santiago Bernabeu,” police sources say.

List

Antiviolencia has compiled a list of 15 radical fans who are prohibited from receiving support from clubs. There are 10 players from LaLiga Santander (Premier league): Boixos Nois, Temporary Pets and Puppies (Barca) Ultras Sur (Madrid), athletic front (Athletic Madrid) bucaneros (ray), Birs North (Seville), young elx (Elche), Indar Gorri (Osasuna) and Herri North Taldea (Athletics club). In LaLiga Smartbank (Second part) we find six: iraultza (Alav), Ligallo and the Waspper (Zaragosa), Bokeron Front (Malaga), symmachiari (Oviedo) and ultraboys (Sport). And in First RFEF (formerly 2ªB) they Riazor Blues (La Coruna Sports).

But some of the fans that have been causing the most trouble lately are not on this list. This is the case for what has been considered the most dangerous ultra-fan in Spain in recent years: Betis’s. It has two conflicting violent groups: Fans Lake Sur and United Familya split where they even fight inside the stadium and are twinned with Boixos Nois.

Another of the hobbies where more violent incidents have been recorded lately is the ones mentioned above. real society. They even gave their last big fight after the match between txuri urdin and Mourinho’s students. And in 2022 there was an attack by this group against the United Family around the Reale Arena and it resulted in this attack. two people were arrested in the area, four people were injured and a lot of property damage was caused.

They are also not on the ‘banned groups’ list as they have recently reinvented themselves. They believe that the historic Peña Mujika and its new name (RSF Firm) are not yet included in the list of the most dangerous, so they can display their symbols in the Reale Arena without any problems. This practice, in which the ultra band’s name is changed when marked a lot, is becoming popular in Spanish stands. It’s one of the keys to explaining why ultras continue in Spanish football.

Keys

Despite the fight by the Anti-Violence Commission to eradicate this scourge, the groups are still active. Outside or inside stadiums. “We know that they continue to enter the field even though they can’t display their symbol,” they explain from the police. In this sense, the security forces understand that clubs need to put more pressure on their radicals: “Clubs have an obligation to have Internal Regulations set by Law 19/2007, which includes the rights and obligations of clubs. Spectators. They should use it so that those who use violence lose their subscriber status. But they have to have that firm will.”

Police sources say, “Some of them hide their symbols because they can’t display them. Others change them directly.” This is the state of the aforementioned ultras of Truth. but also Breogan troops, Named after Celta’s radical supporters after the club banned Celtarras in Balaídos. Or Indar Gorri, who now calls them, according to the Police. Sadar Bizik.

Another key to the Ultras continuing to infiltrate the pitches is the slowness of judicial processes. “Judicially prepared groups, they have lawyers. The Sevilla field will soon be partially closed. For the sanction of certain facts registered in 2016. The processes are so slow, they go on forever, they keep repeating… and meanwhile, the ultras can keep getting into stadiums.”

It’s also notable that some of the most violent clashes between ultras are sub-categories, such as in First Federation matches or between affiliate clashes. matches like Deportivo de La Coruña – Celta B, Cádiz B-Xerez or CD Badajoz-Mérida They are classified as high-risk matches. Thus, serious incidents took place on the field of teams such as Kultur Leonesa. It’s harder for officials to focus on lower league matches, which makes them even harder. ideal breeding ground for setting scores among fans.