Balanced News: Morocco ‘ultras’ steal football show with passion, pyrotechnics

Morocco’s “ultras” or fan groups are well-known for their passionate and often theatrical displays at football matches. These groups have a long history of drawing attention away from the action on the pitch, and their antics have become known as “the crowd effect”. The Club World Cup, a global football competition, is underway and the Moroccan “ultras” are eagerly showing their support for their team. Wydad, a club from Casablanca, is the team that the ultras are most loyal to and their display at games is often legendary. The ultras groups of Raja, another club from Casablanca, and Fez, a club from nearby Fes, also have their own fan groups and often compete with each other in spectacular displays. The ultras culture is often associated with violence, but in Morocco it is mainly used to express emotions such as anger and frustration. The Club World Cup is a global event and the Moroccan ultras are hoping to make a big impression on the global football community.