Soccer Against the State: Egypt’s Ultras and the Arab Spring

On this last ‘rest day’ of the World Cup, we pay tribute to another group of revolutionary hooligans: Cairo’s now-legendary Ultras Al-Ahlawy and the White Knights of Zamalek FC. Traditionally bitter rivals, these organized fan groups came together in solidarity at Tahrir Square and were instrumental to the Egyptian Revolution. The ultras embodied resistance to Egypt’s oppressive military regimes, and coined the phrase now echoed around the world by anarchists and forces resisting police violence: “A.C.A.B.” (All Cops are Bastards!)

After Mubarak’s downfall, they continued to be heavily targeted by counterrevolutionary forces, most infamously in the brutal massacre of 70 ultras after a match in Port Said, Egypt in 2013. In their statement “In Defense of the Ultras,” written after this incident, the Revolutionary Socialists of Egypt had this to say about the politicization and heroism of Egypt’s football revolutionaries:

“The Ultras [football fans] groups that joined the ranks of the revolution early on, and fought among the revolutionaries proved and are still proving every day that they are an integral part of our revolution. The Ultras originated in Egypt as a reaction to the dominance of the policy of profit and greed of capitalism over football; the turning of soccer into a marketplace of advertising; the rising ticket prices and the monopoly over broadcasting matches as well as the brutality of the security forces.

Thus arose the Egyptian Ultras groups, like all movements that originated in Egypt in response to tyranny and exploitation. It was no surprise that the Ultras groups found their place in the heart of the Egyptian revolution in search of freedom and justice, and that they have made all the sacrifices incurred by the forces of our militant revolution, rejecting the military council’s looting of the revolution and their re-building a system of oppression and exploitation.

Long live the Ultras – a fighting faction among the revolutionaries. Glory to the martyrs, victory to the revolution and shame on the criminals.”