A few years ago I went to a German regional league match, Carl Zeiss Jena v FSV Zwickau, which was played on a freezing Monday night because it was on TV. For the first 17 minutes of the match neither set of ultras (good Zwickau presence, local-ish derby) made a sound, in protest at TV trying to kill the atmosphere. We were very confused until it was explained to us, but I can’t remember why it was 17 minutes of silence. Then it returned to raucous normality, and really kicked off close to the end when the Zwickau ultras (Red Kaos) got tear gassed. Happy days.
Looks like Rohl is taking it on, he's well versed in handling basket cases after Chanseri. Probably too good a manager for that squad...
It does make laugh when I hear fans called 'Ultras'. Down here the Palace Ultras have been in the news over the spat with UEFA and there was a big demo outside on a Tuesday evening at the ground. The local joke was that Nigel and Kevin had been allowed to play out by their Mum and Dad but had to be home by 10.00 or their Play Stations would be confiscated...
English fans? Absolutely. The old ‘firms’ weren’t/ aren’t like the European ultras either, don’t carry colours, only really interested in fighting each other away from the grounds. The European ones are genuinely strange and sometimes scary groupings. Always prepared to fight but not necessarily looking for it.
Nothing wrong with playing games for cash (Oops I mean grow the game) overseas if qpr get sent back down here to the colonies to play a game in Wellington
