‘An uprising against loneliness’: why have football ultras become a cultural obsession?

A new documentary travels around the world to identify the roots of ultra-mania – the fan movement that’s part progressive and sometimes criminal ‘Ultras” – hardcore football fans renowned for their stunning stadium displays and gang-like loyalty – were once a subculture confined to Italian stadiums. But since the late 1960s the movement has spread through global football terraces and become a more elevated cultural obsession. Books on the subject include my own Ultra and James Montague’s 131...

By Tobias Jones