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Rise of the Ultras: a new wave in Scottish football
Football terraces across Scotland are witnessing a surge in Ultra culture, a fan-driven phenomenon blending spectacle with controversy. A new BBC Scotland documentary explores whether these groups revitalize the game or fuel disorder.
From flares to solidarity
Partick Thistle Ultras leader Manpreet Singh traces the movement's local roots to the 2021 Covid lockdowns, when fans barred from stadiums gathered outside to watch matches. Their post-match celebrations-flares, drums, and chants-sparked a lasting collective identity.
"After Covid, we realized we could do something here," Singh says. Since then, Ultras have funded and organized elaborate stadium displays, framing their efforts as a grassroots revival of football culture.
"Ultras isn't just people running about trying to cause issues."
Manpreet Singh, Partick Thistle Ultras
Global appeal, local tensions
Social media influencer Blair McNally, whose videos of Scottish Ultras have amassed 62 million views on TikTok, argues the movement's energy transcends borders. "Kids from Croatia, kids from Japan-they wish they had this," he says.
Yet critics highlight recurring clashes. Police Scotland condemned recent violence between Celtic and Rangers Ultras at Ibrox as "despicable," while the Scottish Police Federation warns of growing disruption. General Secretary David Kennedy cites an incident where Old Firm Ultras fought in Glasgow's city center, forcing Christmas shoppers to flee.
Dual realities
Forensic psychologist Karyn McCluskey draws parallels to gang culture, noting Ultras fulfill a need for belonging. "They want to be part of something," she says. But the movement's anti-establishment ethos-rooted in 1960s South American and European fan groups-often pits Ultras against authorities.
While choreographed displays dominate most matches, confrontations with police and rival fans remain a persistent concern. Podcast host Sean McDonald frames the dilemma: "If we stamp it out, we lose the passion. But you can't ignore the obligations."
Uncertain path forward
Scottish Football Supporters Association chairman Andy Smith describes a leadership vacuum: clubs, politicians, and police lack a coherent strategy. "Ultraism is here for good," he says, "but there have to be rules."
The documentary underscores the movement's diversity-from Alloa's drum-wielding teens to Celtic and Rangers' organized factions-making a single definition elusive. As McDonald puts it, "Two things can be true at once": Ultras bring vibrancy to stadiums, but their actions also demand accountability.
