The Ahlawy provided fuel for the revolution which ultimately overthrew Mubarak. The illustrious club’s highly organised ultras movement, Al Ahlawy, was formed in 2007. It was named African Club of the Century by the continent’s football umbrella body in 2000 for its astonishing record: eight times African Champions League winners, 38 Egypt league winners and 35 times Egypt cup winners. As he’s observed, it was a time when only two groups in Egypt were allowed to air their views: the Muslim Brotherhood and the ultras.Īl Ahly is huge in Egypt. The influential revolutionary group’s role in the events of 2011 has been written about extensively by senior football writer, Matt Gault. They became a leading voice on the front line against Hosni Mubarak’s regime, helping unseat the despot after 30 years of autocratic rule. Two ultra groups – Al Ahlawy, that supports Al Ahly, Egypt’s iconic club and its major rivals, Zamalek’s White Knight ultras – marched together in their thousands on Cairo’s Tahrir Square in 2011. In Egypt, the powerful ultras played a crucial role in the revolution of 2011. The close link between football and politics often manifests in ultras groups.

The hope is that this will keep a lid on any outbreak of violence. But some remain in place, including a ban on ultras attending matches. But the ban goes against the Confederation of African Football’s wishes to have stadia filled to the brim.Įgypt has lifted some of the restrictions it imposed on fans. The situation has been so tense that the government has gone as far as banning groups of fans linked to some of the country’s top teams. There’s tension around the security issue because of the role previously played by ultra groups in Egypt.

But most are simply passionate supporters. A number of ultra groups are racist and violent and some are linked to criminal gangs. Some ultras have political connotations – left or right wing, fascist, communist or revolutionary. They can often be seen strutting their stuff at major matches, providing sounds, visuals and noise through songs, chants, fireworks, instruments, flags and banners. Today they are also prominent in countries like Germany, France, Poland, Serbia Scotland, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, Argentina, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. The ultras movement began in Italy in the 1950s. Ultras are fanatical football fans who organise themselves into support groups, often attached to clubs but also often reflecting a particular class or brand of politics. But behind the scenes the North African state’s security agencies will be keeping a close eye on a certain group of fans, known as “ultras”. When the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) opens in Cairo, Egypt, the focus will be on the games between the continent’s top football teams to see who is going to raise the cup on Friday 19 July at the end of the three-week tournament.

Most fanatical football fans