The history of Cairo’s
football fans is one of the most poignant narratives of the 25
January 2011 Egyptian uprising. The Ultras Al-Ahly and the Ultras
White Knights fans, belonging to the two main teams, Al-Ahly F.C. and
Zamalek F.C respectively, became embroiled in the street protests
that brought down the Mubarak regime. In the violent turmoil since,
the Ultras have been locked in a bitter conflict with the Egyptian
security state. Tracing these social movements to explore their role
in the uprising and the political dimension of soccer in Egypt,
Ronnie Close provides a vivid, intimate sense of the Ultras’ unique
subculture.
Cairo’s
Ultras: Resistance and Revolution in Egypt’s Football Culture
explores how football communities offer ways of belonging and
instill meaning in everyday life. Close asks us to rethink the labels
‘fans’ or ‘hooligans’ and what such terms might really mean.
He argues that the role of the body is essential to understanding the
cultural practices of the Cairo Ultras, and that the physicality of
the stadium rituals and acerbic chants were key expressions that
resonated with many Egyptians. Along the way, the book skewers media
clichés and retraces revolutionary politics and social networks to
consider the capacity of sport to emancipate through performances on
the football terraces.