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Real Madrid y Barça ya dieron ejemplo con los ultras – AS.com

Context and Background

Radical supporter groups, or “ultras,” emerged in Spain during the 1980s, with similar movements developing acrossEurope. These groups were characterized by their passionate support for their teams, but also by their association with extreme ideologies, including far-right or far-left politics, and violent behavior. In Spain, ultras became prominent as clubs like Real Madrid and FC Barcelona saw organized fan groups taking up dedicated sections in stadiums, levelling up the matchday atmosphere. However, their activities often extended beyond the pitch, with chants and displays, leading to conflicts with rival groups, incidents of hooliganism, and clashes with law enforcement.

Image: Atlético Madrid Ultras before the Madrid Derby

The history of ultras in Spain is also intertwined with broader social and political dynamics. The transition from Franco’s dictatorship in the late 1970s left a polarized society where football stadiums became outlets for political expression. Groups like Real Madrid’s Ultras Sur and Barcelona’s Boixos Nois not only showcased loyalty to their club but also aligned themselves with nationalist or ideological causes, intensifying rivalries on and off the pitch. Over time, these associations led to heightened scrutiny, as violent incidents and discriminatory behavior tarnished the image of Spanish football. In response, clubs and governing bodies began implementing policies to counteract the influence of ultras, promoting safer and more inclusive environments for fans.

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“Locura”, “caos”, “dramatismo”, “escándalo” o “espectáculo arruinado”. Así vivió el planeta el bochorno acaecido en un derbi vibrante en lo deportivo, horrible en lo extradeportivo. Una vergüenza mundial. Tras el gol de Militao se lanzaron objetos hacia Courtois. La lluvia de mecheros procedía desde la grada donde se ubica el Frente. La megafonía trató de hacer un llamado a la calma, pero hubo más y Busquets Ferrer, impoluto en la aplicación del reglamento y posterior redacción del acta, paró durante casi 20 minutos el encuentro. Después del encuentro, el Atlético afirmó, contundente, que “aplicará el régimen interno previsto para casos muy graves a las personas que hayan estado implicadas en este incidente”. Amén de reconocer que había “identificado a uno de los protagonistas de estos lamentables incidentes”. El propio Metropolitano les afeó el comportamiento. Los primeros capítulos de una situación candente con la que otros clubes ya han lidiado. Sin ir más lejos, el Real Madrid y el Barça, que ya dieron ejemplo con los Ultras Sur y los Boixos Nois.

Una fecha, el 26 de diciembre de 2013. Meses antes, Ultras Sur había comenzado a dividirse de manera interna y esa fractura terminó con una batalla campal, en noviembre, en el histórico bar donde se agrupaban, el Drakkar. Algo más de un mes después llegó el comunicado: “El Real Madrid comunica que procederá a la reorganización completa de la Grada de Animación de Fondo Sur del estadio Santiago Bernabéu”. Tajante, el equipo blanco echaba a los Ultras Sur del estadio y procedía a la reorganización de la zona donde se colocaba el grupo. Así nacía la nueva Grada Fans, que sigue vigente y que nació en 2014 bajo la premisa de la “animación sin violencia, ni política, ni racismo, abierta a todas las edades y con un único sentimiento común, el madridismo”. El club impulsó su creación y sigue presente en su coordinación y supervisión, pues los participantes deben firmar un compromiso en pos de cumplir las premisas anteriores recogidas en un contrato. Y desde entonces, el fondo sur, unas 2.000 localidades, luce blanco.

No fue un proceso sencillo. Sí duro. Pancartas y cánticos contra el presidente del Real Madrid e incluso pintadas en la tumba de su esposa en más de una ocasión. El propio Florentino, en la Cadena SER, durante la disputa del Mundial de Clubes de 2014, lo detalló un buen ejemplo. “Sé quiénes son los que pintaron la tumba de mi mujer, con nombres y apellidos, pero no me van a amedrentar. No van a entrar aquí”, afirmó. Y se reafirmó: “Nos han intentado coaccionar, sí, y nos han intentado presionar, pero los violentos no van a estar en el Bernabéu. Son delincuentes que tienen que estar en otro sitio que no sea un estadio porque ni van a ver el fútbol, ni son del Real Madrid ni nada. Hay que tratarles, pero no en el Bernabéu”.

Un proceso largo en comunión con el Barça

Fue largo. Pues Florentino comenzó a masticar la idea en 2003, junto a Joan Laporta, cuando el mandatario azulgrana llegó a la presidencia del Barça por primera vez. Este prometió tolerancia cero y con mano dura terminó dejando fuera del Campo Nou a los Boixos Nois. Laporta cerró el almacén donde el grupo guardaba sus “elementos de animación”, cortó la financiación de la que disponían en años anteriores y ahí comenzaron amenazas. Llegó incluso a ser agredido a la salida del Palau tras un partido del equipo de baloncesto. Pintadas en la fachada de su casa que obligó a su familia a mudarse a Sant Cugat, detenciones de cabecillas y cortaron incluso una emboscada que había preparada para volver a agredir al presidente azulgrana. La batalla continuó, abriendo expedientes a socios y sellando expulsiones…

La relación con Mourinho

Paso a paso hasta que Laporta ganó la guerra tras unos dos años. En el caso madridista, fueron algo más de diez hasta que ese comunicado en período navideño dio carpetazo de manera oficial. Una de las razones por las que se dilató el proceso fue la cercanía del grupo con Jose Mourinho, técnico blanco entre 2010 y 2013. Ultras Sur eran grandes valedores del portugués y desde el club no se atrevieron a dar el paso por la gran comunión que tenían para con el técnico. De hecho, en el último partido de Mou, contra Osasuna, algunos integrantes bajaron al terreno de juego a entregarle una placa (”En homenaje a tu trabajo y como recuerdo de la gente del fondo sur del Santiago Bernabéu, que nunca te olvidará. Ultras Sur” se leía) y el entrenador se fotografió con ellos. Durante el duelo, en las gradas lucieron algunas pancartas de apoyo hacia el portugués, que salió después del encuentro a despedirse y agradecer el apoyo. No obstante, su salido facilitó la labor institucional, después se potenció la citada división interna que ya comenzaba a aparecer y terminó llegando ese 26 de diciembre de 2013. Los presidentes de Madrid y Barça se dieron la mano en la lucha contras sus aficionados violentos y finalmente consiguieron institucionalmente dejarles fuera.

Casos aislados

No obstante, el asunto sigue. Pues en no pocas ocasiones se han colado en estadios en otras zonas a espaldas del club. O han viajado en Champions, como en el encuentro ante el Braga en la Champions de la pasada temporada. El grupo adquirió entradas y el comportamiento violento hizo que aparecieran los antidisturbios, afectando al resto de aficionados blancos. Más de 80 peñas madridistas recogieron firmas y pidieron al club “que no se cedan entradas a socios y peñas vinculadas con los Ultras Sur”.

Desde el Madrid, ajenos a la adquisición, pidieron responsabilidades a UEFA: “Esas localidades se las vendieron los del Braga en otra zona, algo que no pueden hacer por normativa UEFA (las de los aficionados visitantes sólo puede venderlas el club visitante) y la policía portuguesa fue la que decidió juntarles con los que tenían las entradas que concedió el Real Madrid a sus socios. Desde el inicio del partido, el club se quejó oficialmente al delegado de la UEFA, al Braga y a la policía portuguesa”. La postura es clara, “tolerancia cero”. Ídem en el bando azulgrana. En algún partido del filial han aparecido los Boixos y también en duelos del Barça como visitante. Pero a espaldas del club. En definitiva, el fondo sur del Bernabéu es propiedad de la Grada Fans y los Boixos Nois no han vuelto a pisar el Camp Nou.

Translation:

“Madness”, ‘chaos’, ‘drama’, ‘scandal’ or ‘ruined spectacle’. This is how the world experienced the embarrassment of a derby that was vibrant in sporting terms, but horrible in non-sporting terms. A worldwide disgrace. After Militao’s goal, objects were thrown at Courtois. The rain of lighters came from the stands where the Front is located. The public address system tried to call for calm, but there was more and Busquets Ferrer, impeccable in the application of the rules and subsequent drafting of the minutes, stopped the match for almost 20 minutes. After the match, Atletico stated, forcefully, that “they will apply the internal regime foreseen for very serious cases to the people who have been involved in this incident”. It also acknowledged that it had “identified one of the protagonists of these unfortunate incidents”. The Metropolitano itself reproached them for their behavior. The first chapters of a heated situation that other clubs have already dealt with. Without going any further, Real Madrid and Barça, who already set an example with the Ultras Sur and the Boixos Nois.

One date, December 26, 2013. Months before, Ultras Sur had begun to divide internally and that fracture ended with a pitched battle, in November, in the historic bar where they were grouped, the Drakkar. Just over a month later came the announcement: “Real Madrid informs that it will proceed to the complete reorganization of the Grada de Animación de Fondo Sur of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium”. In a clear statement, the white team kicked the Ultras Sur out of the stadium and proceeded to reorganize the area where the group was located. Thus was born the new Grada Fans, which is still in force and was born in 2014 under the premise of “animation without violence, politics or racism, open to all ages and with a single common feeling, madridismo”. The club promoted its creation and continues to be present in its coordination and supervision, as participants must sign a commitment to comply with the above premises set out in a contract. And since then, the south end of the stadium, some 2,000 seats, has been in white.

Image: Grada Fans RMCF, opposing violence, racism- unity behind Real Madrid

It was not a simple process. It was tough. Banners and chants against the Real Madrid president and even graffiti on his wife’s grave on more than one occasion. Florentino himself, on Cadena SER, during the 2014 Club World Cup, detailed a good example. “I know who are the ones who painted my wife’s grave, with names and surnames, but they are not going to intimidate me. They are not going to come in here,” he affirmed. And he reaffirmed: “They have tried to coerce us, yes, and they have tried to pressure us, but the violent ones are not going to be at the Bernabéu. They are criminals who have to be somewhere other than a stadium because they are not going to watch soccer, nor are they Real Madrid fans or anything else. They have to be treated, but not at the Bernabéu”.

A long process in communion with Barça

It was long. Florentino began to chew on the idea in 2003, together with Joan Laporta, when the azulgrana leader became president of Barça for the first time. He promised zero tolerance and with an iron fist ended up leaving the Boixos Nois out of the Campo Nou. Laporta closed the warehouse where the group kept their “animation elements”, cut off the funding they had received in previous years and threats began. He was even assaulted when he left the Palau after a basketball game. Graffiti on the facade of his house forced his family to move to Sant Cugat, arrests of ringleaders and even cut off an ambush that had been prepared to attack the president again. The battle continued, opening files on members and sealing expulsions?

The relationship with Mourinho

Step by step until Laporta won the war after about two years. In the case of Madrid, it was a little more than ten until that communiqué during the Christmas period officially put an end to it. One of the reasons why the process was delayed was the closeness of the group with Jose Mourinho, white coach between 2010 and 2013. Ultras Sur were great supporters of the Portuguese and the club did not dare to take the step because of the great communion they had with the coach. In fact, in Mou’s last game, against Osasuna, some members went down to the pitch to give him a plaque (“In tribute to your work and as a reminder of the people of the south end of the Santiago Bernabeu, who will never forget you. Ultras Sur” it read) and the coach took a photo with them. During the match, some banners were displayed in the stands in support of the Portuguese, who came out after the match to say goodbye and thank them for their support. However, his departure facilitated the institutional work, then the aforementioned internal division that was already beginning to appear was enhanced and ended up arriving on that December 26, 2013. The presidents of Madrid and Barça joined hands in the fight against their violent fans and finally managed institutionally to leave them out.

Isolated cases

Nevertheless, the issue continues. For on more than a few occasions they have sneaked into stadiums in other areas behind the club’s back. Or they have traveled in the Champions League, as in the match against Braga in last season’s Champions League. The group bought tickets and the violent behavior caused the riot police to appear, affecting the rest of the white fans. More than 80 Madrid supporters clubs collected signatures and asked the club “not to give tickets to members and supporters clubs linked to the Ultras Sur”.

Madrid, unaware of the acquisition, asked UEFA for responsibility: “Those tickets were sold by Braga fans in another area, something they cannot do according to UEFA regulations (those of visiting fans can only be sold by the visiting club) and the Portuguese police were the ones who decided to put them together with those who had the tickets that Real Madrid gave to its members. From the start of the match, the club officially complained to the UEFA delegate, to Braga and to the Portuguese police”. The position is clear, “zero tolerance”. Ditto on the azulgrana side. The Boixos have appeared in some matches of the reserve team and also in Barça away matches. But behind the club’s back. In short, the south end of the Bernabéu is the property of the Grada Fans and the Boixos Nois have never set foot in the Camp Nou again.

Image: Banned Ultras Sur members at Braga vs Real Madrid in the group stage of the 23/24 Season

Useful Vocab

General Vocabulary:

• Locura — Madness
• Caos — Chaos
• Dramatismo — Drama
• Escándalo — Scandal
• Espectáculo — Show/spectacle
• Vergüenza — Shame
• Bochorno — Embarrassment
• Incidente — Incident
• Comportamiento — Behavior
• Grada — Stands (in a stadium)
• Partido — Match (sports)

Actions and Verbs:

• Lanzar — To throw
• Parar — To stop
• Afirmar — To affirm/state
• Reconocer — To acknowledge/recognize
• Aplicar — To apply
• Identificar — To identify
• Afeó — To criticize/scold
• Lidiar (con) — To deal (with)
• Implicar — To involve
• Firmar — To sign
• Supervisar — To supervise

Football-specific Terms

• Gol — Goal
• Ultras — Hardcore fans (often extreme or violent)
• Animación — Cheering/support
• Tolerancia cero — Zero tolerance
• Fondo sur — South stand (specific area in a stadium)

Expressions and Phrases:

• Hacer un llamado a la calma — To call for calm
• Aplicar el reglamento — To apply the rules
• Tolerancia cero — Zero tolerance
• A espaldas del club — Behind the club’s back
• De manera tajante — In a forceful/clear way
• Pedir responsabilidades — To demand accountability
• Mano dura — Strong hand/strict measures

Adjectives and Descriptions:

• Vibrante — Thrilling
• Horrible — Horrible
• Lamentable — Regrettable
• Violento/a — Violent
• Impoluto/a — Spotless
• Histórico/a — Historic
• Propiedad — Ownership/property

Football References

• Frente — Refers to fan groups (e.g., Frente Atlético)
• Boixos Nois — Barcelona Ultras
• Ultras Sur — Real Madrid Ultras
• Grada Fans — The new supporters’ section in the Santiago Bernabéu

Key sentence structures:

1. Expressing Events 

• Event + se vivió como + description
  • Example: Así vivió el planeta el bochorno acaecido en un derbi vibrante.
  • Translation: The world experienced the embarrassment that occurred during a thrilling derby.
  • Use: Describing how something was perceived or experienced.

2. Reporting Statements

• Subject afirmó que + statement
  • Example: El Atlético afirmó que “aplicará el régimen interno”.
  • Translation: Atlético stated that “it will apply the internal regime”.
  • Use: Reporting or quoting someone’s words or a statement.

3. Cause and Effect with “tras”

• Tras + noun/verb
  • Example: Tras el gol de Militao se lanzaron objetos hacia Courtois.
  • Translation: After Militao’s goal, objects were thrown at Courtois.
  • Use: Indicating sequence or consequence.

4. Neither/nor with “ni…ni”

• Ni + [noun/verb] + ni + [noun/verb]
  • Example: Ni van a ver el fútbol, ni son del Real Madrid ni nada.
  • Translation: They neither watch football nor are they Real Madrid fans, nor anything else.
  • Use: Emphasizing exclusion or denial of multiple elements.

5. Making Comparisons

• Más de/menos de + [quantity]
  • Example: Más de 80 peñas madridistas recogieron firmas.
  • Translation: More than 80 Real Madrid fan clubs collected signatures.
  • Use: Comparing quantities.

6. Expressing Purpose with “para”

• Para + [infinitive]
  • Example: Para cumplir las premisas recogidas en un contrato.
  • Translation: To fulfill the premises outlined in a contract.
  • Use: Explaining purpose or intention.