The top ten most dangerous ultras groups have been named – and several have created fierce reputations for themselves.
Most football supporters around the world are passionate about their team but some take it a step too far and are often dubbed as ‘ultras’.
The term ‘ultras’ is usually defined by a group of a club’s most vocal supporters, who usually gather in a specific section of stadiums.
Several European and South American clubs are commonly associated with having organised ultra groups while the culture is less prominent in the British game.
But who are the most revered groups in world football?
Well, this depends on lived experience or who you ask but there are certain groups that are commonly mentioned.
Hajduk Split – Torcida Split
As Everton fans found out in 2017, the Torcida Split group are not to be messed with.
During a Europa League play-off first leg at Goodison Park back in 2017, play was halted in the 33rd minute of the match, after Hajduk fans surged towards the pitch and threw objects towards the Toffees’ supporters.
As a result, the Croatian club were fined £35,348.
The group dates back to the 1950s and was formed by a group of students after they witnessed the passionate crowds during the 1950 World Cup, which took place in Brazil.
The organisation are one of the oldest in world football and have branches across the globe – although they are mainly based in Croatia.
Hajduk Split fans at Goodison Park in 2017 (Credit:Getty)
Dinamo Zagreb – Bad Blue Boys
The club are based in Croatia’s capital city and the group was founded back in 1986.
The BBB were huge supporters of the country’s first president Franjo Tudman after Croatia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1990.
However, their support did not last long when the former president attempted to change the club’s name to NK Croatia to the dismay of group.
The BBB have close ties with several other groups around Europe such as Panathinaikos, Dynamo Kyiv, Dinamo Tbilisi, and AS Roma’s ultras.
Dinamo Zagreb fans (Credit:Getty)
Ferencvaros – Green Monsters
The Green Monsters are one of the most feared groups on the list and boast a strong rivalry with fellow Budapest club Újpest’s ultra group.
They even boycotted games back in 2015 when the Hungarian FA tried to implement a palm print system to identify fans who attended matches before the decision was overturned.
The Green Monsters (Credit:Getty)
River Plate – Los Borrachos Del Tablón
River Plate’s ultras are one of the most well-known in South America. The club and their ultra group boast a fierce rivalry with their Buenos Aires-based rivals Boca Juniors, with clashes often seen when the two side’s meet.
Back in 2018, the group were even accused of attacking Boca’s team bus, as per reports from BBC Sport.
Several Boca players were injured when their team bus was attacked when travelling to River’s Estadio Monumental.
The city’s mayor at the time explained how the incident was an act of revenge after the police raided the home of the group’s leader.
River Plate supporters (Credit:Getty)
S.S. Lazio – Irriducibili
The Rome-based club are associated with a violent ultra group that are feared around Italy and the rest of Europe.
And the Irriducibili are never far from trouble, as Real Sociedad fans experienced in January 2025 ahead of the clubs’ Europa League tie.
Nine Sociedad fans were injured after violent attacks in central Rome ahead of the fixture.
As reported by The Guardian, around 80 members of the Lazio ultras group turned up armed with chains, knives and hammers before attacking the away fans in an incident the city’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, described as “shameful”.
Lazio fans (Credit:Getty)
St Pauli – Ultra Sankt Pauli
The German club are known for an ultras group that differs from the others on the list. Ultra Saink Pauli has an anti-discrimination stance and was one of the first teams to support anti-racism, anti-fascism, anti-homophobia and general anti-discrimination campaigns.
However, they still create a hostile atmosphere at the club’s Millerntor-Stadion.
St Pauli Ultras (Credit:Getty)
Red Star Belgrade – Delije
The Serbian side’s ultras group was first formed in the 1940s but was named in 1989. The Delije are known for their nationalist views and boast ties with Olympiacos and Spartak Moscow due to their shared Orthodox faith.
Back in 1990, the group clashed with Dinamo Zagreb’s BBB ultras when tensions were at their peak in Yugoslavia.
While the incident was not officially the catalyst for ‘war’ the fixture has since been known as the ‘match which started a war’.
Red Star Belgrade fans (Credit:Getty)
Galatasaray S.K – ultrAslan
Turkish fans are known for being vocal with their support of their teams, and Galatasaray are no different. However, their ultra group the ultrAslan have made a name for themselves mainly for the wrong reasons.
The ultrAslan was founded in 2001 and are known for their pyrotechnic displays – although the Turkish FA have tried to stamp this out with fines for those involved.
The group are not associated with politics but are still one of the most feared in Europe.
In 2023, the club were fined £44,420 after thousands of supporters gained access to the home section of Old Trafford during Gala’s Champions League fixture against Manchester United.
The English club were forced to issue an apology after several of their supporters “felt unsafe”.
Galatasaray fans are known for their pyro displays (Credit:Getty)
S.S.C Napoli – multiple groups
The Italian side are unique in many ways but, like the other club’s mentioned, are associated with a dangerous ultra group.
The Napoli supporters have several ultra groups – notably Commando Ultras Curva B, ultras Napoli, and Fedayn.
The factions all add to the atmosphere at the Diego Armando Maradona and are often seen with pyrotechnics.
However, they have also been known to attack away supporters with reports of weapons being used on several occasions.
Back in 2010, Napoli faced Liverpool in Naples in the Europa League – but the game was overshadowed when three Liverpool fans had to be treated in hospital for stab wounds.
Napoli’s ultras (Credit:Getty)
Olympique de Marseille – Commando Ultra 84
Marseille are one the most supported clubs in France and boast a rich history. And like many other European sides are associated with a dangerous ultras group.
Commando Ultras 84 was formed in 1984 and are well known for making a hostile atmosphere at every home game at the club’s Velodrome stadium.
Fixtures against PSG often are often marred by clashes between the clubs’ ultras with the Paris side being associated with the Boulogne Boys.
