Football Ultras: A menace or a force for good?

"What these young ultras bring is an energy and a passion. Kids from Croatia comment on my videos, kids from Japan saying 'I wish we had this'. Scottish football culture is amazing. This perspective from influencer Blair McNally, who has accumulated 62 million TikTok views and 10 million YouTube views documenting Ultra scenes, highlights how the movement resonates internationally and attracts global admiration for Scottish football's passionate fan culture."

"The Old Firm Ultras declined to take part in the BBC documentary, keeping to a long-standing code of silence and a desire to retain an air of mystique. But their confrontational behaviour makes it harder for supporters of the wider scene to persuade sceptics that there is a softer side to the Ultras. This tension illustrates the challenge facing the broader Ultra movement in gaining mainstream acceptance."

Scottish football has witnessed the rise of Ultras—a youth-driven subculture inspired by European terrace traditions, characterized by smoke bombs, pyrotechnics, and organized fan displays. This phenomenon has grown significantly over the past decade, particularly through social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where influencers document Ultra scenes from grassroots to top-flight levels. While supporters argue Ultras bring energy, passion, and cultural relevance to Scottish football, their confrontational behavior and militant tactics present challenges. Groups like the Old Firm Ultras maintain secrecy and refuse public engagement, complicating efforts to highlight positive aspects. Leaders like Manpreet Singh of Partick Thistle Ultras trace the movement's growth to pandemic-era fan restrictions, when supporters gathered outside stadiums to maintain community connection.

Read at www.bbc.com