Openers, witnesses, followers, and ‘good guys’. A sociological study of the different roles of female and male ultra fans in confrontational situations

Abstract

This paper proposes to deal with the masculine and aggressive culture of ultra football fans. We are particularly interested in analysing violence in the social world of ultras thanks to Randall Collins’s theory that considers ‘violence as situational process’. What happens during situations of tension? This article will particularly insist on a description of what each actor of these situations does: ultras, ‘opposing’ fans and policemen. How do they adapt their way of doing things in situation and in interaction? We will describe different figures of ultras who participate in confrontational situations: the openers, the followers, the witnesses, and the ‘good guys’ who are the notorious and hardest fighters. The world of ultras is based on an ‘aggressive masculinity’ encouraging fight skills. Nevertheless, women are also involved in ultras’ groups and take part in confrontational situations. How do they participate in violence? We will describe and analyse the specific role of female ultras in violent situations.

Notes

1. In compliance with the French legislation regarding associations. T.N.

2. In a stadium, terraces are the cheapest areas of the stands, located behind the goals. T.N.

3. Italian word that refers to displays using sheets of plastic or of cardboard, fabric, scarfs, balloons, confettis, flares, smoke bombs, etc.

4. It is a small magazine (mostly in an A5 format) that contains illustrated reviews of home and away games, as well as articles about the activities of the group, the club or the city.

5. This term mainly refers to objects bearing the group’s name, logo or design that are sold during games or at the group’s premises: scarfs, clothes (sweatshirts, tee-shirts, beanies, caps, polo shirts, etc), lighters, badges or stickers.

6. Main emblem of the group, it is made with plastic, measures several tens of metres and bears the name of the group. It is unfolded in front of the terrace during home games and away games.

7. Ph.D. thesis defended in public in October 2013, Université Jean Monnet in Saint-Etienne.

8. Created in July 1991, they occupy the northern terrace.

9. Created in February 1992, they are in the southern terrace, in front of the Magic fans.

10. For more anonymity, first names have been changed and quotations from ultras from Saint-Etienne will only refer to their sex and age and will not mention the name of their group.

11. When written in italic, fights will refer to scheduled fights which are also called fights by French ultras. When written in a regular font, ‘fights’ will refer to the French ‘bagarre’ (brawl). T.N.

12. That is what she writes about penitentiary world.

13. Season 2014–2015, Europa-League match in Kiev opposing Ukrainian club FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and ASSE.

14. Season 2008–2009, Europa League match opposing Bruges to ASSE. A fight took place between Belgian fans and fans from Saint-Etienne on the way to the stadium, nearby the town centre.

15. A van of nine seats capacity. T.N.

16. Compagnie Républicaine de Sécurité (French riot squad). T.N.

17. In Manning 2003, 357.

18. This group has been dissolved by justice in 2010.

19. Olympiakos/ASSE, season 2008–2009.