Mentalità Ultras

This has become one of the most interesting and informative posts. In think I understand it now, I am learning that there is so much more to the game then what meets the eye. Thanks guys for showing me more of why people not only love, but RESPECT this game............Ciao

Originally Posted by Staci

This has become one of the most interesting and informative posts. In think I understand it now, I am learning that there is so much more to the game then what meets the eye. Thanks guys for showing me more of why people not only love, but RESPECT this game............Ciao

Very true. Gio you have created a great thread regarding the Ultras which many overseas do not totally comprehend. The banners that span half a curva in home games never cease to amaze me.

Gio..here is a question I always wondered about. Are the team personnel involved with members of the Ultra? You once said Il Barone has contacts with the team. Is it true?

Not to compare the Milan Ultras with any other hard-core supporters, but every team has its own group of dedicated, passionate groups who sit together during games, display banners, sing, make noise, etc.

This part is fine and colorful, and it adds to the enjoyment.

Yet, there are negative aspects: ugly fights, drinking before and during the game, trashing the facilities, riots, arrests by the police, etc. It is good to be a supporter, and stupid to risk your life and well being for a game of football. From the crazy hooligans in the English league, to the fighting Greek crowds, to the insane Brazilians, I have seen the same behavior many times.

My bottom line is: no tolerance for violent acts, the sport is only a game, you should enjoy what is happening on the field (and sometimes applaud the opponent) and, above all, have a life other than being a football fan.

My message to the Ultras : cool off a little bit, this is not life and death.

Other than that, interesting thread. Thanks, Giovanni.

Originally Posted by AcMilan_Montreal

Gio..here is a question I always wondered about. Are the team personnel involved with members of the Ultra? You once said Il Barone has contacts with the team. Is it true?

Not only they have contacts and links, but for exmple they are financed by clubs, inorder to help them to prepare always amazing coreo, and they travel on team's flights (at least the chiefs) like Il Barone, who's always guest in the v.i.p. area during the break (where he can have snacks and food or just relax with stunning babes). Not only, but when the Ultras Board is in legal trouble , esp away from Italy, the Milan diplomatic relationships solve many of their problems
For ex. imagine the police finding smoke cannisters before the match, they pick up these guys and take them to police station..The Board calls Milan management who calls the diplomatic representer in that country and try to solve these problems before the match if possible

Ultras tend also to be official friends with some ultras, neutral or enemies. Milan ultras are friends with Brescia (old friendship), Reggina and Venezia, while worst enemies are Juve, Roma, Verona, Genoa and Sampdoria.

I heared a story that in the Coppa italia Palermo-Milan some boys stole a banner form a Milan fan, and the Palermo ultras returned the banner to the Barone. Between Milan and Palermo ultras there is neutral relationship, in fact when I was in Monreale last sunday a Palermo fan came to me (I was wearing Fossa dei leoni stuff) thinking I was an italian from Milan and wanted to exchange his scarf with mine. I refused since to go to Milan i have to wait a minimun of 4 months.

Thanks Gio and Franco. I asked this question because my Father and his friend saw an interesting thing happen at a few Milan games in Japan for the Coppa Intercontinentale. Let me explain:
Two times they attended the match (1993 & 1994) and at the hotel they noticed a person who was always with the team and even wore the official team suit. They thought he was one of many personnel who travel with the team (example: Gandini, etc). However, during the game they saw the same guy in the stands with the scarf, flags, etc. yelling into a megaphone and leading the songs, etc. So maybe once upon a time the team had people in the stands to lead the 'chants'...keep the peace...start the choreography, etc??
BOH

woo..nice thread, i didnt know that Milan fans are THIS passionate It is just like a hardcore fanclub of Milan. A 'conductor' leading a huge group of people (80000 strong choir??!! ) is an amazing feat.

But the Milan Curva do cheer and make noise when Milan plays away right? But (correct me if im wrong) the match agaisnt Palermo, i believe i did not hear any milan chants or singing. Mostly sounded unfamiliar n so i assume it is the Palmeritas whom were cheering throughout.

Originally Posted by BaggioForever

woo..nice thread, i didnt know that Milan fans are THIS passionate It is just like a hardcore fanclub of Milan. A 'conductor' leading a huge group of people (80000 strong choir??!! ) is an amazing feat.

But the Milan Curva do cheer and make noise when Milan plays away right? But (correct me if im wrong) the match agaisnt Palermo, i believe i did not hear any milan chants or singing. Mostly sounded unfamiliar n so i assume it is the Palmeritas whom were cheering throughout.

Our End has no more than 10000 people roughly.
Just few times the whole San Siro sing a song, when Milan is in its day and everyone is excited.. Btw about the Palermo match, you have to understand it was quite far from Milano so few Ultras went there and as Franco told you, basically there were people not used to sing among the hardcore supporters.
100 out of 1000 knew the Curva songs and this is due to the fact , in away sections, different people mix up in the same area, so the first timer stands up near the hardcore supporter, which doesn't happen in our home games.

There are more representative away matches during Serie a, for ex. Torino or Verona where the real Ultras kernel moves to these places and there you feel that 8000 out of 8500 persons sing. The difference is relevant.

I don't know so much about the Milan Ultras, but they do seem to just want to follow the team, and enjoy the matches and try to be like the 12th man on the team by offering encouragement.

But supporters like tose of Boca Juniors, River Plate etc. etc. or just downright racist people like the ones at Lazio, those are the kind that we just don't need.

Originally Posted by Rapierist

I don't know so much about the Milan Ultras, but they do seem to just want to follow the team, and enjoy the matches and try to be like the 12th man on the team by offering encouragement.

they are not saints though, there have been many fights in the past and even bad episodes, but what matters is not the acts of few persons but the general attitude. Nobody can control the will of a single fool.

Originally Posted by Rapierist

But supporters like tose of Boca Juniors, River Plate etc. etc. or just downright racist people like the ones at Lazio, those are the kind that we just don't need.

Milan fans have never taken politics into stadiums nor racist acts.

Many people,when talking about ultras, focus only on negative things.Everybody likes good atmosphere at the game but it is not people who are watching games on leather seats who are making it.It is ultras who do it with passion.Ok,sometimes it can go bad but it is not always ultras fault.I don't know about Italy but here is huge police opression against fans.Sometimes it makes ultras even more radical.

Originally Posted by Giovanni

they are not saints though, there have been many fights in the past and even bad episodes, but what matters is not the acts of few persons but the general attitude. Nobody can control the will of a single fool.

Yes, yes. I know. Milan Ultras are tough people who have gotten into fights in the past and will fight back when provoked in the future. You've said that countless times.
I'll take your word for it.

Originally Posted by Giovanni

Milan fans have never taken politics into stadiums nor racist acts.

By we, I meant people in general. I know Milan Ultras groups are not political.

In the Palermo match only 100 out of 1000 where singing i.e. there where 100 ultras that know all chants (me one of them ) while the other 900 where normal supporters.
Obviously when you play away the home team is heared more because they had more people singing and booing us.

As Gio said when we play at home only the curva sings (about 8000 people). Others sing simple songs mainly at the end of the game.

Then obviously a lot depends on the performance of the team. If the team does well ultras sing more.

Ultras rarely boo a Milan player e.g. Crespo was booed when he was not scoring by normal supporters. Ultras tend to be more patient but when their patience end huge demonstrations are made. I remember well the season 1997-98, in the last home match vs Parma ultras protested by booing players, saying that they wanted only money and once they showed their back to the pitch.

Farnco, how and why did you become an Ultra ?

well, i'm not exactly a 100%. Here are my reasons.

1: I cannot watch Milan at the san siro every week
2: Ultras are kind of people that have nothing ion their life except Milan, I need to pass the exams so get the degree. I have more ambitions than they have.

HOWEVER I LOVE MY TEAM AS MUCH AS THEM, I AM A CRAZY SUPPOTER LIKE THEM AND I LOVE TO SUPPORT MY TEAM.