Reply #93: Egypt And Soccer: The “Ultra” Revolution?

[Lars77]

Tens of thousands of Egyptians gather in a concentrated area, marching together and shouting in support of their faction. Authorities attempt to subdue the throbbing crowds, but they are prepared to fight in the streets until their voices are heard. This scene has played out in Egypt countless times before, not by protesters in Tahrir Square in opposition to the government, but by Egyptian soccer fans, known as “ultras,” in support of their clubs.

What does this have to with the current mass protests? With no single sport dominating the United States, it’s difficult for Americans to understand the effect soccer can have on a nation and its people, especially in Egypt. Sports Illustrated’s Dave Zirin explains in an insightful piece detailing the past and present of what the game means to Egyptians: “Egypt’s most prominent team, Al Ahly, started its club in 1907 as a place to organize national resistance against British colonial rule. The word Al Ahly translated into English means ‘the national,’ to mark their unapologetically political stance against colonialism.”


http://buquad.com/2011/02/02/egypt-the-ultra-revolution/