“Mentalità ultrà.”

This part consists of four interviews recorded in 2003 with real, practising ultras. The selection includes four members of the supporters of four Italian cities and is somewhat suggestive: the aim was to present groups of ultras of different political affiliations. Hence an ultra from the far-rightist camp of Verona, another from the far-leftist Livorno, and two from the apolitical Florence and Bergamo camp are given voice. The interviewees talk about the early days of the ultra movement, its formation, actual problems, their own relation to violence, to the football-business, to the media and to politics through the lens of their own city and group. The interviews reveal the diversity of the ultra phenomenon, and that it is to a large extent influenced by the different cities’ traditions (for instance the “red” in Livorno, which was the cradle of the Communist Party). At the same time the young—or not so young people— talking about their world are in a way very similar to each other. Reading the interviews might bring us closer to understand what is the often mentioned “mentalita ultra”.