Livin’ La Vida Loca: Polish Pyro & Protest
Poland is preparing to host (half of) Euro 2012, and campaigns by the Polish FA and government to crack down on ultras groups at clubs across the country are producing a visceral backlash.
We’ve covered Polish fans’ protests before here, but events have taken a further turn with the recent news that new legislation this summer means ultras caught lighting pyrotechnics inside a football stadium will face up to five years in prison.
How have Polish ultras groups responded?
Lech Poznań-Lechia Gdańsk, May 2009
Emphatic enough. And then there was:
Rough translation: "It's better to steal than to do choreos. The judge will be more lenient." This display, from Wisla Kraków vs. KS Górnik Zabrze in April, shows a thief, a judge and a fan lighting flare.
Ultras culture in Poland, embedded in football and inextricable from questions of class, race and politics, is worthy of a dissertation in itself, so a brief blog post can hardly get to the bottom of this. But it’s pretty clear the battle between the authorities and supproters will only escalate as the spotlight on Poland intensifies ahead of Euro 2012.
One thing’s for sure: ultras culture will not die without a bang in Poland.
About the Author
Tom Dunmore is the founder and editor of Pitch Invasion. Follow him @pitchinvasion on Twitter.
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Go pollocks go!!
Beautiful job on the three figures….
Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurva!!!!!!
Thats a HUGE art attack!!
Nice to see this, as always. There were a lot more choreos addressing the new legislation or club policies, done by Widzew Lodz (“You’ll miss us when we’re gone” roughly), Legia Warszawa (a whole set against their board) or Ruch Radzionkow (emphasising the anti-ultra coalition of police, media and PZPN).
There’s also a fantastic multi-technique choreo mocking the business class inside stadiums done by Widzew Lodz last weekend. Half of their curva dressed in suits and sat just applauding players from time to time. Then they stood up and were using their jackets as a supporter accessory. It was all themed up with the best Polish comedy that used to mock the communist authorities but fts so much now as well. Sadly.
Beautiful Poland, beautiful. the world should fight against the banning of flares. theyre not killing anyone…whats next flags ? singing ? are they too intimidating ?
Beautiful Poland, beautiful. the world should fight against the banning of flares. theyre not killing anyone…whats next flags ? singing ? are they too intimidating ?
Ultra Mentalista! You won’t stop the Polish Ultras, they come from a breed who have survived Nazi Invasion and Communist Rule and remained proud and defiant throughout.
Too many countries have fallen to the authorities, terracing ripped up, plastic soulless stadia. We need to reclaim football, not let them take it from us. Fight the power.. Sempre Ultras!
If, and that’s a big IF, they do try and enforce this the Polish prisons will be full to bursting.
a great site. I too enjoy. I wish you success
If, and that’s a big IF, they do try and enforce this the Polish prisons will be full to bursting.