1312 : Inside the Ultras

I have a vested interest in this book as I run 20+ strong football supporter group and have in the past attended all home and away games in a season following my team in Japan. I avoid using the term ultra as I know there are fans who attend every away match including those abroad and would think nothing of taking a trip to see the youth team or a friendly match. Ultras in Japan are as likely to be a retired couple or a young family with kids in tow. Unfortunately, this book only mentions Japan in passing but that is fine. Maybe, it is for me to write that part.

Having said that, this is a fantastic book, a scary book and a really in depth delve into ultra culture which is a fanaticism that surpasses left and right politics, race or religion. It shows how strongly knit tribal groups form and why they are feared by the authorities. In many countries, for good or bad, the violent ultra groups were the only citizens who could take on the police when demonstrations turned violent.

As a book it does a great job to shock and amaze and is entertaining and informing. I'll definitely read it again.

Also, speaking in March 2022, this book is a goldmine of information about the situation in Ukraine and the political situation there. It also covers a lot about the subtle and not so subtle influence of Putin in other European countries and the complex political situation in Balkans and how money, football, hooliganism, rent-a-mobs have been used to sway the politics of many of those countries.

Crazy brave reporting and investigation went into this book.