Anti-fascist football fan groups: St. Pauli, Celtic, Rayo, AEK
Anti-fascist football fan groups are supporter organisations that combine backing for their clubs with opposition to racism, fascism and far-right politics. They emerged most visibly in the 1980s and 1990s, often in working-class districts with strong punk and left-wing traditions. The best-known include the fan scene around FC St. Pauli in Hamburg, Celtic’s Green Brigade in Glasgow, Rayo Vallecano’s Bukaneros in Madrid and AEK Athens’ Original 21, with the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network linking many of them.
Why did anti-fascist fan groups emerge in the 1980s and 1990s?
Football terraces in the 1970s and 1980s were often contested spaces. Far-right groups, including the National Front in England and various neo-Nazi networks in Germany, tried to recruit from hooligan firms and terrace culture. In response, left-wing and punk-influenced fans began organising explicitly anti-fascist groups.
Key factors included:
- Deindustrialisation in port cities and industrial districts, which hit working-class communities hard and made radical politics attractive.
- Punk and post-punk scenes that shared venues, pubs and politics with football fans.
- The zine and fanzine boom, which gave fans a cheap way to spread their message.
FC St. Pauli: Hamburg’s punk football club
FC St. Pauli, based in the St. Pauli district of Hamburg, is perhaps the most famous example. The club’s fan scene became associated with punk, squatters and left-wing politics from the 1980s onwards. The skull and crossbones logo is now a global anti-fascist symbol. The fan-run Fanladen St. Pauli (a fan project) offers counselling and organises anti-racist campaigns. The club itself has officially embraced the anti-fascist stance, though tensions remain between commercial pressures and fan culture. For more on the club’s punk roots, see FC St. Pauli: The Punk Football Club of Hamburg.
Celtic’s Green Brigade: Irish republicanism and anti-fascism
The Green Brigade is a Celtic FC ultra group based at Celtic Park. It is known for large-scale tifo displays, Irish republican politics and left-wing, pro-Palestinian stances. The group has clashed with club management and police over banners and songs. Its use of rebel songs and folk-punk connects to the wider Irish diaspora culture in Glasgow. For a deeper look at that musical side, see Celtic FC, Irish folk punk and the songs that fill the terraces.
Rayo Vallecano’s Bukaneros: anti-fascism in Madrid
The Bukaneros are an ultra group supporting Rayo Vallecano, a working-class club in the Vallecas district of Madrid. They are known for their anti-fascist, anti-racist and pro-immigrant politics, often expressed through banners and chants. They have been involved in campaigns against police brutality and in support of local social movements. Their politics are firmly left-wing and republican.
AEK’s Original 21: politics in the Greek stands
Original 21 is a major ultra group supporting AEK Athens. It has a strong anti-fascist and anti-racist identity, often displayed through banners and actions. Greek football has a complex political landscape, with some fan groups associated with the far right; Original 21 has positioned itself on the left. The group is also known for its involvement in community projects and charity work.
What is Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE)?
FARE is a network that brings together fan groups, NGOs, football federations and players’ unions to combat racism and discrimination in football. It organises annual anti-racism action weeks, when fans, clubs and communities hold events and campaigns. FARE also monitors incidents and provides resources for anti-racist fan groups. It has worked with many of the groups mentioned here, though it is a network rather than a governing body.
How do these groups connect to punk and DIY culture?
The links are both stylistic and organisational. Many anti-fascist fan groups borrow tactics from punk: DIY zines, benefit gigs, sticker campaigns and direct action. In Hamburg, St. Pauli fans have long shared pubs and venues with the city’s punk scene. In Glasgow, Celtic fans’ folk-punk repertoire overlaps with the city’s radical music traditions. The aesthetic of groups like the Bukaneros and Original 21 often includes skulls, camouflage and military-style jackets, echoing punk and skinhead styles. If you’re interested in that visual language, our guide to making a punk battle jacket that actually lasts covers the basics.
A short timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|
| 1980s | St. Pauli fan scene adopts skull logo and left-wing identity |
What should you read next?
If you want to understand the wider relationship between punk and football terraces, our piece on Oi! and the terraces is a good starting point. For the DIY media side, see How to make a punk zine. And for the European DIY venue network that often overlaps with fan culture, try Squats, cellars and sound: what became of Europe’s DIY venues.
External references: FC St. Pauli official site, FARE network, Celtic FC official site.
FAQ
What is the Green Brigade?
The Green Brigade is a Celtic FC ultra group known for its political displays, Irish republican and left-wing stances, and its use of folk-punk and rebel songs in the stands.
Are St. Pauli fans anti-fascist?
Yes. The fan scene around FC St. Pauli in Hamburg has a long-standing anti-fascist and left-wing reputation, expressed through banners, chants and community projects.
What is Football Against Racism in Europe?
FARE is a network of fan groups, NGOs and football bodies that works to combat racism and discrimination in European football through campaigns and education.