ARTICLE I - ULTRAS AND POLITICS
WE NEVER DID POLITICS.
Our favorite sport, football, is often seen as mere entertainment. However, the decisions made by UEFA and FIFA show that this sport has long been intertwined with politics. From geopolitical stances to rainbow flags, these links are undeniable. This connection between football and politics is particularly evident within the Ultras scene.
As we traveled through Europe’s stadiums, we observed that this shared passion is strongly influenced by local political contexts. In Marseille, a historic stronghold of antifascism, the stands resonate with militant energy, while in Sofia, the omnipresence of neo-Nazi symbols highlights the complexity of football in Eastern Europe.
Over the past two years, we have explored the Belgian scene by attending more than 150 matches in less than 24 months. This allowed us to connect with various active groups in our country. The media often speaks on behalf of these groups, which is why we undertook this work to allow them to share their political vision, with the goal of ensuring that their words, and only their words, are conveyed, word for word.
Each response was collected with the consent of the leaders of each group, ensuring the authenticity of the statements reported.
What is being claimed?
Some groups clearly identify as Antifa, meaning they adhere to left-wing politics. Antifascism originally aimed to oppose fascism and, by extension, ideologies stemming from the regimes of Mussolini and Hitler. Other groups identify with right-wing political ideas. Some of these groups may sometimes flirt with the far right or even openly claim to be part of it. Lastly, a majority of groups do not wish their identity to be associated with politics, although some members may hold personal beliefs. The Responses of the Ultras Groups Although all groups from the top two divisions, as well as active groups from lower divisions, were contacted, some chose not to share their views. Others preferred to remain silent, a decision we fully respect. If a group is not mentioned in the responses, it is because we did not receive authorization from the group's leaders to speak on their behalf. Questions Asked: - Is politics allowed within your group? - If politics is allowed, what political values does your group defend? - Do you have a specific cause to defend? A demand? A fight important to the group?
The responses :
MAUVES ARMY - RSC ANDERLECHT
“ F*CK POLITICS, ONLY ANDERLECHT! “
SOUTH LEADERS - RSC ANDERLECHT
" Politics not allowed. Our politics and what brings us together is the the Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht and the ultras movement. All forms of politics are strictly excluded from our activities. Those who wish to engage in politics must do it outside of the stadiums. "
BLOCK 22 - R. CHARLEROI SC
" Politics not allowed in our group. Everyone has their own political opinion and can discuss it with other members as long as it doesn't affect the group's image. The only policy we follow is to support our club and defend our city and our colors in every possible way. Our city is often criticized, so we strive to restore its image through our actions and mentality. We also defend popular football, which is in decline and where money completely dominates everything. "
STORM ULTRAS - R. CHARLEROI SC
" No politics within the group, no politics within the stadium. We defend the legalization of pyrotechnics, popular football that is accessible to everyone, less repression, and other similar topics. "
DENDER FINEST - FCV DENDER EH
" Within our group, we are not really involved in politics, so we cannot really help you with this. "
VAK 202/LUBANIOS - OH LEUVEN
“ We don't show any political colours. Offcourse everyone has their political preferences, but we don't act upon those in the group and stadium. ”
BANLIEUE GANTOISE - KAA GENT
“ No politics allowed. We don't defend any political value. But in terms of politics, everyone is free to think what they want, but within Banlieue it is not the intention that this is expressed or made known in the stadium. Within Banlieue we are all family with respect for each other regardless of political opinions. This also applies for the rest of the fans, as a club we do not express political preferences. ”
ANTWERP DYNAMITE - R. ANTWERP FC
“ We don't like politics. Football and politics need to be separate. No politics in football. “
AMBERES 17 - R. ANTWERP FC
“ With us politics isn't realy a thing. We try to keep te politics out of the group and even the club. We will not defend any political opinion, but we will defend the normal ways of life. Altough everyone in our group rejects the woke mindvirus, there may be some individuals who have a right or left view on life but we don’t let the values of the group change because of that. Everybody has their own opinion aslong as you respect the others. At antwerp there are a couple of ethnic groups who have their own identity and place in our stand. They are as much part of antwerp as any other person. And they deserve the respect from any support for their value and dedication to the club and atmosphere. The most important thing for the group is the game itself and to keep modern football as far away as possible. The passion for the club has nothing to do with politics in our opinion. ”
VAK I - K. BEERSCHOT VA
“ We don't allow politics in our group. ”
TRIBUNE ZUID - KRC GENK
“ F*ck politics in football. We are extremist : EXTREME GENK E BASTA! Freedom for all ultras. ”
FAST SIDE - RFC LIEGE
" No politics allowed. The only causes to defend are the group, the club, and our city. "
BRUSSELS POWER 05 - RWD MOLENBEEK
" No politics with us when we represent the group. "
GREEN BOYS - RAAL LA LOUVIERE
" We will never be for politics. Everyone is free to think what they want, but no talking politics in the stands. We have so much to think about and do as ultras, so we are 100% against it. Our fight is to share the passion, mentality, and Ultras culture from generation to generation. If we don't do it, it will be lost. It's important to teach this to the youngers. "
CREWNEAU - KAS EUPEN
" Politics not allowed. In the group, everyone is welcome, but at Eupen only Eupen. Everyone can have their own political ideas privately. In the group and the stadium, there is no politics. No left or right. In the stadium, it’s only Eupen and football. The pride of the team and the city. "
AUTHENTICS - KSC LOKEREN
“ We are a group where every personal opinion and preference is allowed. Our opinion is that we have to keep politics far away from Football. ”
SOUTH LANE CREW - SVZ WAREGEM
“ No politics in our group. ”
VAK K - PATRO EISDEN MAASMECHELEN
“ Within our group/club there is no place for politics of any side of the spectrum. We focus solely on our shared heritage as a mining club/our regional identity as a club from "de Maaskant" (the region of the meuse river in Belgian and Dutch Limburg). ”
PALLIETER - K LIERSE SK
“ Yes, allowed. We are Flemish orientated and are right wing. ”
MONS 1910 - RAEC MONS
“ No politics allowed. Our only fight is again Police repression against our group. “
VAK C - K BERCHEM SPORT
“ No politics allowed. ”
EXCEL BOYS - STADE MOUSCRON
" Politics has no place in our group. Our group is a mix of Flemish and Walloons who come to the stadium with the same goal: to support their team. So it doesn’t matter what your native language is, as long as you come to support the team, you are welcome. "
ONION BOYS - SC EENDRACHT AALST
“ There is absolutely some form of politics involved in the stands of aalst. Aalst is a truly proud Flemish city with a very traditionnal Flemish DNA. There is a lot of chauvinism and we will always defend everything that comes with our DNA. You can say we are conservative and right side oriented. We believe 100% in freedom of speech and are 200% against the woke movement. “
JV ULTRAS - JV DE PINTE
" No politics in our group. Only "Fight in our eyes" is to be one of the best ultras groups from the lower leagues in Belgium and definitely in our league. "
ULTRAS BINCHE - RUS BINCHE
" Politics not allowed because it has no place in the stands. Since the group's revival 2 years ago, our only goal has been to support the club as best we can. Our members are involved in the club's active life. We also try to do a lot for local associations without necessarily posting about it because we are not seeking fame. "
ULTRAS INFERNO - R. STANDARD DE LIEGE
“ From the beginning of its existence, the group has claimed to be anti-racist/anti-fascist and made it one of its main values. We speak more of an anti-racist ideology that was already present at the time of Hell-Side and continued until the creation of the Ultras Inferno group in 1996 (initially a section of Hell-Side 81 that became a fully-fledged group in the future). The great era of industrialization in Liège brought waves of immigration from all over Europe, making Liège multicultural for a long time. As a result, people from all origins came together at the stadium to support Standard de Liège. Because of this multiculturalism, Liège, as well as Wallonia, were not fertile ground for the far right. We strive to maintain this. This mix of cultures was also reflected by a massive influx of supporters from the Flemish region (particularly Limburg) into the stands of Sclessin, following the great era of Limburg players who restored the club’s reputation. At Standard, Walloons and Flemish walk together behind our colors. Since our creation, we have taken part in numerous anti-racist tournaments and gatherings, such as the Mondiali Antirazzisti in Italy and the RSRA in France. Later, we became active members in developing the network of anti-racist/anti-fascist supporters "Alerta Network", which aims to bring together supporter groups worldwide that claim this ideology. Several debates, exchanges, and meetings have led the group to develop certain fights, such as the fight against homophobia, for example. We also carry out social actions, such as an annual food collection for the Restos du Coeur. Recently, we were a major player in the reconstruction of the Front Antifasciste Liégeois 2.0, which aims to undertake various actions to fight against the organization and propaganda of the far right within the city of Liège. We fight against all forms of discrimination, including racism in stadiums, which, for us, has no place in a football stadium or anywhere else! No fascists in our stands. No stands for fascists!
UNION BHOYS - R. UNION SG
“ Historically, the East Stand is politically left-wing. But today the group is not politicized and does not display messages in the stands that go beyond the scope of our club. “
2024 YOUTH - KVC WESTERLO
" Politics are not allowed in our group, but everyone can have their opinion. We are currently fighting the existence of our group because we feel like we are being fucked on every level. "
GREEN LIONS - LOMMEL SK
We don't get politically involved, everybody has a preference but when we're in the stadium we only support Lommel.
HJS & HCB - KSK HASSELT
“ Politics allowed. Political side : (far) right. We will always defend our flemish and European traditions and people as we have our own opinion about the in 1830 madeup country Belgium and how its being run rightnow, in a perfect world politics aren’t allowed in football but the world is so bad rightnow that you can't go around it anymore. Hasselt has always been like that so we don't want to throw away the values our older generations have build up. We just think everyone should bedend and be proud of the European culture and their local one. And not be seen as the ultimate biggest racist or whatever. We are anti woke and a proud flemish city. ”
KAOTIC GAUMAIS 19 - RE VIRTON
In our group, politics is not present, coming from groups from Standard and OM, our ideals lean to the left. The cause to defend is being the village of unyielding Gaumais. We enjoy annoying everyone by making them come to the very end of Belgium, and we like it.
ROCH’BOYS - UNION ROCHEFORTOISE
"Politics is not a part of our group’s life. We prefer to focus on our shared passion for football and our club, leaving politics aside."
YELLOW BLACK ARMY - K. LYRA-LIERSE
" Flemish and proud of it. "
ULTRAS TUBIZIEN - RU TUBIZE B.
" In Tubize, politics have no place within our group. We are here primarily to support our team, create atmosphere in the stadium, and, if necessary, advocate for matters related to our club or football. That being said, we recognize that politics have always been present in our club, particularly because our president was once the mayor. However, in our ultras group, we are absolutely not interested in that. Our priority remains our club and nothing else. "
CONCLUSION
Facts, Not Opinions
Our journalistic approach was rigorous and impartial. We strictly limited ourselves to reporting the facts as they were shared to us.
Our role is not to judge but to give a voice to those who are too often silenced. This work reflects our commitment to providing honest and accurate coverage of the Ultras scene in Belgium.
The groups not mentioned were contacted, and we ensured that each message was well received. Once again, we respect each group’s choice to share or not share their views. We are committed to continuing to document this scene with the seriousness it deserves.
Libertà per gli Ultras
GHCOMPANY
FOR THE CULTURE
READ MORE ARTICLES
ARTICLE II
ULTRAS & REPRESSION : WHY?
ARTICLE III
WHY FRENCH GOVERNMENT WANT ULTRAS DISSOLUTION?
ARTICLE IV
MORE INFO SOON