ABSTRACT
This paper proposes to deal with the masculine and aggressive culture of ultra football fans. We are particularly interested in analysing violence in the social world of ultras thanks to Randall Collins’s theory that considers ‘violence as situational process’. What happens during situations of tension? This article will particularly insist on a description of what each actor of these situations does: ultras, ‘opposing’ fans and policemen. How do they adapt their way of doing things in situation and in interaction? We will describe different figures of ultras who participate in confrontational situations: the openers, the followers, the witnesses, and the ‘good guys’ who are the notorious and hardest fighters. The world of ultras is based on an ‘aggressive masculinity’ encouraging fight skills. Nevertheless, women are also involved in ultras’ groups and take part in confrontational situations. How do they participate in violence? We will describe and analyse the specific role of female ultras in violent situations.
