ultra soccer club in Egypt is a dark omen for American sports fanatics and protesters
Sports fanaticism isn’t just a capitalist marketing scheme. Even Egypt with thousands of years of history and culture also falls victim to the obsession. A popular tourist attraction, the pyramids are one of the few of the 7 wonders of the world still standing. But sports and politics for the last decade have far more relevance than the nostalgia of the pyramids. The fanatical Ultra soccer club participated in the Arab spring which began the social media generation spark that would influence America. Here why you should be concerned.
“The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy (49:10).”Â
Without the Arab spring, there wouldn’t have been the nationwide marches for George Floyd or the Mike Brown riots. The 2011 revolution was the first time in social media history that civilians were using social media for social change. A major part of that revolution is the Ultra soccer club in Egypt. Around 2007 the club formed in response to police injustice and their love of Football(soccer).
Football(soccer) teams don’t generate revenue through t.v. contracts, and endorsements to create fanatics. Therefore this begs a deeper question, perhaps being fanatical isn’t so much predicated on marketing but is something innate in us. With police injustices causing riots all over America, it’s easy to assume that social media helped cause it. However, it was Egypt that really sparked the movement of the relationship with social justice and social media.
The protests were the first time the world saw massive protests without the usage of film crews. Ultra soccer club is a controversial sports fanatical group. Perhaps it was a much-needed outlet to deal with social unrest. Although the group released a statement saying they won’t protest as a group, individual members are welcomed to attend.
Ultra members would end up playing a key role in the 2011 revolution despite claiming their club isn’t interested in politics just sports. This gives validity to our statement that sports fanatics are usually fanatical about other things as well. It also further diminishes the notion that sports and politics aren’t related. the inability to rationalize and process our emotions in any situation is dangerous, not only to ourselves but to those around us. Below are some of the chants from the Ultra soccer club during games.
Chants during games weren’t sports-related.
“we want the leader executed”
“the revolution broke the system”
“We revenge our friends, or die like them”
Prior to the 2011 revolution, there had only been one political party to vote for, but the Egyptians could cheer for different teams. Sports can only pacify the revolutionary spirit for so long. The Ultra soccer club is a way of life, not just a sports club. The members cheer for the entire 90 minutes of soccer matches. Their energy is contagious and is difficult to leave in the stadium.
This energy likely was the result of 72 fans killed and 500 injured within 3 hours during a game in 2012. As politics becomes more intertwined in sports, how much longer can we expect U.S. fans to separate the game from social unrest?
In America, sports stadiums house drunk fans, liquor sales, and the nba is more political than it has ever been. It’s only a matter of time before sports fanatics become a victim of crowd mob mentality. While covid has limited seating severely it’s still surprising that the U.S. hasn’t experienced a riot at games. Even during the Kaepernick controversy, players were standing and kneeling all over America. People may not have realized how lucky we are that this hasn’t happened. Here are several reasons why;
Egypt doesn’t get cold and ticket prices are more affordable for the pockets of society who experience injustice to attend games. Furthermore, America is a lot more divided on a social level due to capitalism. Our society is a lot less dependent on social relationships and interactions than it in the past.
Middle eastern culture is more multi-generational and social with strangers and neighbors. The Muslim religion has been deemed perfect for those looking for brotherhood. While America lacks this it makes up for it with psychoanalytical marketing to create consumers.
While sports are used to entertain, is it also attracting and creating spaces for groups like Ultra soccer club to form. Would it be wrong to assume that those who stormed capital hill arent football fanatics? The dominance of our sports teams compensates for our below-the-surface-level lava of power we seek. If we can’t live through sports teams/players then it’s the politicians/politics. Our fanaticism in sports and politics is a culmination of a lack of control we’ve exercised in our daily lives. That we’re often unaware of.
“Give me an athlete and ill give you an army”
Adolf Hitler
The sports political relationship is often looked at incorrectly. The psychology of fanatics and marketing deserves our attention. The NFL can survive without a black audience while the nba couldn’t. While commissioners pander to the political ideologies of their target audiences, they know their limits as well. Perhaps sports is the second-best remedy to weaken and redirect the warrior spirit, after religion. How many more revolutions and protests would occur if not the world were distracted with supports. How fast would the change people seek actually occur?
for me, life was about money and power,
either step on people or steal and become a businessman,
but the ultras came and lit my path,
they took me into a fantasy world
they helped me forget life’s troubles
Ultra soccer club song
In conclusion, football clubs in Egypt are more popular than political parties, and streets are emptied when teams play. In 2018, after a six year ban from football, Egypt allowed fans to return to games. Except for the Ultra soccer club members. The members claim that the stadiums are full due to the Ultra members. Ironically sports teams in America realize the fanatic is just as important as the player. However, Egypt was brave enough to realize that the sport will continue without fanatics in attendance. How long will the energy of the Ultra’s refrain from the stadium before it channels to the streets? Likewise, how long will political ideologies remain seperate from sports fanatics who can’t attend statdiums?.