If there's one anecdote to prove the influence that some ultra fan groups can have in Italian football, The Gentleman Ultra and ESPN Inter Milan writer Richard Hall shared one with me on Team 33.
"The power that a lot of these clubs' [fans] have. For instance I was at Inter versus Sampdoria a few seasons ago and after the game, an English guy who is on the Curva took me right down into the carpark, underneath into the changing rooms and met [Inter legend Javier] Zanetti. It was unbelievable because I didn't even ask and I was just absolutely gobsmacked at the way the security knew him, the police knew him. Everybody knows them."
Through The Gentleman Ultra website, which he founded and is part of The Guardian's sport network, you get a real in-depth knowledge and history of fan groups in Italian football, from the different politically-minded ultra factions that have emerged in the Curvas and from small-time clubs to the big Serie A giants.
Personally, I have only one first hand experience of ultra culture and that was from a mini-Team 33 trip to see Roma play Parma at the Stadio Olimpico, but even without that, for better or for worse, Italian ultra fan groups are renowned the world over as the pictures below demonstrate.
You can listen to Richard chatting about ultra culture and Robbie Keane at Inter on the podcast player or on iTunes:
Juventus supporters (Picture by: John Walton / EMPICS Sport)
Inter Milan fans setting off flares like it's 1997 (Matthew Ashton / EMPICS Sport)
An Inter fans sends a message which needs little translation in 2005 (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
AC Milan's goalkeeper Christian Abbiati celebrates a goal against city rivals Inter Milan with fans in 2003 (John Walton / EMPICS Sport)
AS Roma's supporters light flares during the 2006 derby versus Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Lazio players throw their shirts to the fans in 1997 (Michael Steele / EMPICS Sport)
Livorno's supporters, known for left-wing leanings moon rivals Lazio's fans (who have factions known for far-right sympathies) during the Italian Serie A match between Lazio and Livorno, in Rome's Olympic stadium, Saturday, April 15, 2006. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Fiorentina fans tell ex-Man United man Beckham that victory will be theirs ahead of a 1999 Champions League encounter (Steve Mitchell / EMPICS Sport)
Napoli fans display a banner in support of their former hero Diego Maradona (AP Photo/Franco Castano)
Genoa fans show their colours during the city derby against Sampdoria (AP Photo / Carlo Baroncini)
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