Football is meant to be a sport that unites communities, not one that's overshadowed by intimidation, violence, and, to be blunt, extremist behaviour. Yet the persistence of ultra culture continues to stain the game and club we love, dragging the focus away from the football and onto the nonsense surrounding it.
Ordinary Supporters Are Paying the Price
Let's be clear: the responsibility for confronting this issue should not fall on ordinary supporters. Traditional fans, families, lifelong supporters, and people who simply want to enjoy a match are the ones most harmed by the toxic behaviour of ultras, not the ones empowered to remove them. They are the folk who end up changing their routines, avoiding certain sections, or even staying away from grounds altogether.
Most fans just want to take in the game, sing a few songs, and go home. They should not feel they are stepping into a battleground or a proving ground for people who are more interested in posturing than backing the team properly. When the atmosphere tips from passionate to hostile, it is the normal punter who suffers first.
Clubs and Governing Bodies Hold the Real Power
It is the authorities, leagues, and football clubs who have the power, resources, and duty to act. They are the ones who can enforce bans, strengthen stadium security, adopt clear, zero-tolerance policies, and protect the sport from being hijacked by a minority who thrive on chaos. They control ticketing, access, and what is acceptable inside a ground.
Fans should not be treated as the problem or be expected to police one another. That only breeds division in the stands and lets those with actual authority off the hook. When clubs send mixed messages, or look the other way as long as the noise levels are high, it only encourages the worst elements to push things further.
Reclaiming the Game for the Majority
Clubs and governing bodies must finally step up, take decisive action, and reclaim football for the vast majority who support their teams with passion, not aggression. That means backing the ordinary supporter, not pandering to groups who cross the line and then hide behind the badge and the colours.
Football belongs to supporters, not to extremists hiding behind team colours. It should feel like a shared space again, where people can disagree, shout, celebrate and moan, without worrying about being dragged into someone else’s agenda. The institutions in charge need to remember exactly who the game is supposed to serve and act accordingly. Until they do, the people who care most about the club will keep paying the price for behaviour they neither want nor control.
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