Curva [ˈkurva] (plural: curve [ˈkurve]) is an Italian term or name for curved stands of seating located at sports stadiums, particularly in Italy; so named, originally, due to their curved or bending shape. The curva plays an integral part in the culture of Ultras and European football.

Composition

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Inter Milan Fans in Curva Nord Milano

The majority of stands referred to as a "curva" are located behind the goals in their respective stadiums and contain the most vocal supporters within them, often known as Ultras. They are usually curved in shape, in some form whether minor or major, often due to the presence of a running track around the pitch.[1] The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza provides an example of two prominent stands referred to as "curva", "Curva Nord" and "Curva Sud", which contain only minor curves at their corners, while the Stadio Olimpico provides an example of two completely curved stands. A curva may extend from one corner flag to another or be located centrally behind the goal, bordered by two separate corner sections for ticketing or organizational purposes.[2]

Significance

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A.S. Roma Fans in Curva Sud

Being home to the most openly passionate supporters in a stadium, the curva is usually the focal point of a club's support. It is often the scene of dramatic choreographed displays of support and occasionally, disapproval for a team or club.[3] These displays often take on an importance of their own, particularly in games involving rivals where both sets of supporters aim to outdo each other.[4] In certain countries, particularly those where sports clubs and supporters are extremely reflective of the local culture, the curva can become quite politicised in nature.[4] Therefore, it is not uncommon for a curva to be split into individual factions or groups, either solely or partially, based on politics, and for one group to hold significant control of the curva and its inhabitants on match days. Ultras groups within a curva often benefit from this degree of relative uniformity, when there are issues regarding supporters' rights and the commercialisation of sports and football in particular.

Locations

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Algeria

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Stadium Club Stand
July 5, 1962 Stadium MC Alger Ultras The Twelfth Player 2011, Ultras Green Corsairs 2012, Ultra' Amoré E Montalita / Virage Sud
May 19, 1956 Stadium USM Annaba Les indepandants de bone 12 / Curva Nord
Stade 20 Août 1955, Skikda JSM Skikda Ultras Senza Confine 13 / Curva Sud
July 5, 1962 Stadium USM Alger Les Unionistes Algérois , El Assima , Les Originaires D'alger / Virage Algérois
Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium,
Constantine
CS Constantine Ultras Green Army 12, Ultras Loca Ragazzi 10 / Curva Nord
November 1, 1954 Stadium (Tizi Ouzou), Tizi-Ouzou JS Kabylie Ultra Kabylie Boys 09 / Zona Amazigh
August 20, 1955 Stadium (Algiers), CR Belouizdad Ultras Fanatic Reds 09 / Volcana
Stade 8 Mai 1945, Setif ES Setif Ultras Inferno 10 / Curva Nord
Ahmed Zabana Stadium MC Oran Ultras Red Castle / Zona Oranostra
Mohamed Boumezrag Stadium,
Chlef
ASO Chlef Ultras Polina 2010 / Curva Sud Chlef
November 1, 1954 Stadium (Batna), Batna MSP Batna Ultras Pantera Nera / Curva Toxic
November 1, 1954 Stadium (Batna), Batna CA Batna Ultras Aurès Boys / Curva Batna
Maghrebi Unity Stadium MO Béjaïa Ultras Granchio / Curva Majica
Maghrebi Unity Stadium JSM Béjaïa Ultras Gouraya United / Curva Furia
August 20, 1955 Stadium (Algiers) NA Hussein Dey Ultra Dey Boys / Curva Razzista
Stade Imam Lyes de Médéa Olympique de Médéa Ultras Olympic Medea/ Curva Blues
Stade Akid Lotfi WA Tlemcen Ultras Kop 13 / Curva Nord

Austria

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Stadium Club Stand
Allianz Stadion SK Rapid Wien Block West

Bulgaria

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Stadium Club Stand
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium Levski Sofia Sektor B / Juzhnata Tribuna / South Stand
Bulgarian Army Stadium CSKA Sofia Sektor G / Severnata Tribuna / North Stand
Hristo Botev Stadium (Plovdiv) Botev Plovdiv Tribuna Iztok / Tribune East / East Stand
Lokomotiv Stadium (Plovdiv) Lokomotiv Plovdiv Tribuna Besika / Tribune Bessica / North Stand

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Stadium Club Stand
Stadion Asim Ferhatović Hase Sarajevo "Vedran Puljić"-Sjever / North Stand
Stadion Grbavica Željezničar Sector C-Jug / South Stand
Stadion Bilino polje Čelik Jug / South Stand
Tušanj City Stadium Sloboda Sjever / North Stand
Banja Luka City Stadium Borac Sjever / North Stand
Gradski SRC Slavija Stadion SRC Slavija Jug / South Stand

China

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Stadium Club Stand Group
CSUFT East-Garden Stadium Hunan Billows Curva Nord Bad Billows Boys

Croatia

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Stadium Club Stand Group
Stadion Maksimir Dinamo Zagreb North Stand / Sjever Bad Blue Boys
Stadion Poljud HNK Hajduk Split North Stand / Sjever Torcida
Stadion Kantrida HNK Rijeka West Stand / Zapad Armada
Stadion Gradski Vrt NK Osijek SouthEast/East Stand /Jugoistok/Istok Kohorta
Stadion Alde Drosine NK Istra 1961 North Stand / Sjever Demoni

Cyprus

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Stadium Club Stand
GSP Stadium AC Omonia Nicosia North Stand/Gate-9
APOEL FC South Stand/AU79
Tsirion Stadium AEL Limassol East Stand/Gate-3
Apollon Limassol West Stand/Gate-1
Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium Anorthosis Famagusta FC South Stand/Maxhtec

Denmark

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Stadium Club Stand
Aalborg Portland Park Aalborg BK Vesttribunen
Blue Water Arena Esbjerg fB Nordvestkurve
Viborg Stadion Viborg FF Sydtribunen
Brøndby Stadion Brøndby IF Sydsiden (earlier Faxetribunen)
Parken FC Copenhagen Sektion 12
Nature Energy Park Odense BK Stiften
Ceres Park Aarhus GF Stemningsafsnit (B1-B2)
Right to Dream Park FC Nordsjælland Red Zone (D-Tribunen)

Egypt

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Stadium Club Stand
Cairo International Stadium Al Ahly SC Ultras Ahlawy/Curva Nord
Cairo International Stadium Zamalek SC Ultras White Knights/Curva Sud
Port Said Stadium Al-Masry SC Ultras Green Eagles
Suez Stadium Suez Montakhab Ultras Suez Fedyan
Ghazl El Mahalla Stadium Ghazl El Mahalla SC Ultras Whales 2008
Ismailia Stadium Ismaily SC Ultras Yellow Dragons
Alexandria Stadium Al Ittihad Alexandria Club Ultras Green Magic

Finland

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Stadium Club Stand
Helsinki Olympic Stadium Finland national football team Pohjoiskaarre
Bolt Arena HIFK Helsinki Klacken
Bolt Arena HJK Helsinki Klubipääty

France

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Stadium Club Stand
Stade Armand Cesari SC Bastia Est/Petrignani
Stade Chaban-Delmas Girondins de Bordeaux Virage Sud
Stade Vélodrome Olympique de Marseille Virage Nord/Sud
Parc des Princes Paris Saint-Germain FC Kop of Boulogne/Virage Auteuil

Germany

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Stadium Club Stand
Signal Iduna Park Borussia Dortmund Südtribüne/Gelbe Wand
Olympiastadion/Allianz Arena Bayern München Südkurve
Volkswagen Arena Wolfsburg Nordkurve
Commerzbank-Arena Eintracht Frankfurt Nordwestkurve
Fritz-Walter-Stadion 1. FC Kaiserslautern Westkurve
Max Morlock Stadion 1. FC Nürnberg Nordkurve
AWD-Arena Hannover 96 Nordkurve
Weserstadion Werder Bremen Ostkurve
Olympiastadion Hertha BSC Ostkurve Hertha BSC
Veltins-Arena FC Schalke 04 Nordkurve
Borussia Park Borussia Mönchengladbach Nordkurve
BayArena Bayer 04 Leverkusen Nordkurve

Greece

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Gate 13
Stadium Club Stand
Peristeri Stadium Atromitos Fentagin
Leoforos Alexandras Stadium Panathinaikos Gate 13
Karaiskakis Stadium Olympiacos F.C. Gate 7
Toumba Stadium PAOK Gate 4
Agia Sophia Stadium AEK Athens Original 21
Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium Aris Super-3
Kaftanzoglio Stadium Iraklis Thessaloniki Autonomous Gate 10
AEL FC Arena AEL Monsters Gate 1
Genti Koule OFI Crete Snakes Gate 4
Nea Smyrni Stadium Panionios Panthers Gate 3

India

Stadium Club Stand
Salt Lake Stadium, East Bengal Ground East Bengal F.C. Curva Nord

Indonesia

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Stadium Club Stand
Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium Persib Bandung Northern Wall
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium Persija Jakarta Curva Nord Persija
Maguwoharjo Stadium PSS Sleman Brigata Curva Sud
Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium Persebaya 1927 Green Nord
Tridharma Petrokima Stadium Gresik United Ultras Gresik Curva Sud
Gelora Delta Stadium Deltras F.C. Curva North
Mandala Krida Stadium PSIM Yogyakarta Mataram Independent 1929
Rumbai Stadium PSPS Pekanbaru Curva Nord
Surajaya Stadium Persela Lamongan Curva Boys 1967
Persikabo Stadium Persikabo Bogor Curva Sud
Wijayakusuma Stadium PSCS Cilacap Curva Nord Squadra 1950
Benteng Stadium Persita Tangerang North Legion
Brawijaya Stadium Persik Kediri Curva Nord
Kanjuruhan Stadium Arema Cronous F.C. Curva Sud 1987
Hoegeng Stadium Persip Pekalongan Curva Sud BBC
Gelora Bumi Kartini Stadium Persijap Jepara Curva Nord Syndicate
Goentoer Darjono Stadium Persibangga Purbalingga Braling Mania Curva Nord
Sultan Agung Stadium Persiba Bantul Curva Nord Famiglia X 1967
Letjen Haji Sudirman Stadium Persibo Bojonegoro Curva Nord 1949
Mahakam Stadium Depok United F.C. Curva Nord
Manahan Stadium Persis Solo F.C. Curva Nord
Merpati Stadium Persikad Depok Curva Nord
Madya Stadium PPSM Kartika Nusantara Gate 3
Haji Agus Salim Stadium Semen Padang F.C. Curva Sud UWS

Ireland

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Stadium Club Stand
Turner's Cross Cork City FC The Shed End

Italy

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Curva Nord Milano
Stadium Club Stand
Juventus Stadium Juventus Curva Sud / Curva Scirea
Arena Garibaldi Pisa Curva Nord Maurizio Alberti
San Siro Inter Milan Curva Nord Milano
AC Milan Curva Sud
Stadio Artemio Franchi Fiorentina Curva Fiesole
Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia Atalanta Curva Pisani
Stadio Brianteo Monza Curva Sud / Curva Davide Pieri
Stadio Ennio Tardini Parma Curva Nord
Stadio Luigi Ferraris Genoa Gradinata Nord
Sampdoria Gradinata Sud
Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi ChievoVerona Curva Nord
Hellas Verona Curva Sud
Stadio Olimpico Lazio Curva Nord
Roma Curva Sud
Stadio Olimpico (Torino) Torino Curva Maratona
Stadio Partenio A. Lombardi Avellino Curva Sud
Stadio Renato Dall'Ara Bologna Curva Bulgarelli
Stadio Diego Armando Maradona Napoli Curva A/Curva B
Stadio San Nicola Bari Curva Nord
Stadio Angelo Massimino Catania Curva Nord
Stadio Nicola Ceravolo Catanzaro Curva Massimo Capraro
Stadio Sant'Elia Cagliari Curva Nord
Stadio Mario Rigamonti Brescia Curva Nord
Stadio Friuli Udinese Curva Nord
Stadio Franco Ossola Varese Curva Nord

Malaysia

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Stadium Team/Club Stand Group
Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil Malaysia National Football Team Curva Ultras Malaya 07 Ultras Malaya
Stadium Bolasepak Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Football Team Droogs Curva Kuala Lumpur Ultras (the Cityboys)
Shah Alam Stadium Selangor FA Green Curva Nord UltraSel
Stadium Perak Perak FA Silvermania Curva / Belang Tarung Tiga Warna Silver State Ultras
Stadium Negeri Sarawak FA Curva Distrixtigabelas GB-13
Darul Makmur Stadium Pahang FA Curva Sebelas Elephant Army
Tan Sri Dato Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium Johor Darul Ta'zim FC Curva Nord Boys Of Straits
Stadium Majlis Perbadanan Pasir Gudang Johor Darul Ta'zim II FC Nord Stand Boys Of Straits
Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium Kelantan FA Gate H Boys
Darul Aman Stadium Kedah FA Terrace 1- T1 Ultras Kedah
Likas Stadium Sabah FA North Borneo Ultras
Stadium Sultan Mizan Zainal Abiddin Terengganu FA Curva Gong Badak Ultras Tranung

Malta

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Stadium Club Stand
Ta' Qali Stadium Valletta F.C. Ultras Beltin 999
Birkirkara F.C. Ultras Birkirkara 97
Hibernians Stadium Hibernians F.C. Paola Boys Hibs Ultras 07
Sirens Stadium Sirens F.C. Ultras Sireni 16
Centenary Stadium Marsa F.C. Ultras Marsin 10
Ta' Qali Stadium Sliema Wanderers F.C. Sliema Ultras 2008
Centenary Stadium Tarxien Rainbows F.C. Tarxien Ultras 2014
Gozo Stadium Xewkija Tigers F.C. 12th Tiger Supporters Club
Nadur Youngsters F.C. White Force Nadur Ultras
Ghajnsielem F.C. Black Pride 2007
Xaghra United F.C. Blue Warriors Xaghra Ultras
Għarb Stadium Għarb Rangers F.C. West Blue Army est.2013
Luxol Stadium Melita F.C. Melita Supporters Club

Morocco

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Stadium Club Stand
Stade Mohamed V Raja Casablanca Ultras Green Boys 05, Ultras Eagles 06 / Curva Sud Magana
Wydad Casablanca Ultras Winners 2005 /Curva Nord Frimija
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium Association Sportive des FAR Ultras Askary Rabat 2005, Black Army 1427 / Curva Che
Stade El Massira Olympique Club de Safi Ultras Shark 06 /Curva Arena
Stade de Marrakech Kawkab Marrakech Ultras Crazy Boys 2006 /Curva Sud 36 (Mitica)
Stade Adrar Hassania Agadir Ultras Imazighen 2006/Curva Sud
Ultras Red Rebels/ Curva Nord
Stade Saniat Rmel Moghreb Tetouan Ultras Los Matadores 2005 – Ultras Siempre Paloma 2006 / Gate 3 – Curva Norte
Stade Mimoun Al Arsi Chabab Rif Al Hoceima Ultras Los Rifeños 2012/Curva Rifeña
Ibn Batouta Stadium Ittihad Riadi Tanger Ultra Hercules 2007/Curva Loca

Netherlands

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Stadium Club Stand
De Kuip Feyenoord Feyenoord
Galgenwaard FC Utrecht Bunnikside
Euroborg FC Groningen Z-Side
Philips Stadion PSV Eindhoven Oost

North Macedonia

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Stadium Club Stand Group
Philip II Arena FK Vardar West Stand Komiti

Philippines

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Stadium Club Stand
Panaad Park and Stadium Ceres–Negros F.C. South Side Curva

Poland

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Stadium Club Stand
Stadion GOSiR Arka Gdynia Górka
Stadion Miejski Lech Poznań Kocioł
Polish Army Stadium Legia Warszawa Żyleta
Henryk Reyman Stadium Wisła Kraków Sektor X

Portugal

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Stadium Club Stand
Estádio do Dragão F.C. Porto Topo Sul
Estádio das Antas Curva Norte
Estádio da Luz S.L. Benfica Topo Sul
Estádio José Alvalade Sporting Clube de Portugal Curva Sul
Estádio 1º de Maio Sporting Clube de Braga Curva Norte

Romania

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Stadium Club Stand
Stadionul Steaua FC Steaua București Peluza Nord
Peluza Sud
Stadionul Giuleşti FC Rapid București Peluza Nord 1996
Stadionul Dan Păltinişanu FC Timişoara Curva Sud
Stadionul Stefan cel Mare FC Dinamo București Peluza Catalin Haldan / Peluza Sud
Stadionul Ilie Oana FC Petrolul Ploiesti Lupii Galbeni / Peluza I
Peluza Latina
Stadionul Ion Oblemenco CS Universitatea Craiova Peluza Nord
Stadionul Farul FC Farul Constanta Peluza Marina Farul

Russia

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Stadium Club Stand
Petrovsky Stadium FC Zenit Saint Petersburg Virazh(Virage)

[1](in Russian)

Stadium Club Stand
Lokomotiv Stadium FC Lokomotiv Moscow Jug(South)

Scotland

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Stadium Club Stand
Celtic Park Celtic North Curve
Ibrox Stadium Rangers Section BF1
Pittodrie Stadium Aberdeen RDS Centre Block

Serbia

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Stadium Club Stand
Stadion Crvena Zvezda Crvena Zvezda North Stand / Sever
Stadion Partizan FK Partizan South Stand / Jug
Stadion Čair FK Radnički Niš South Stand / Jug
Stadion Karađorđe FK Vojvodina North Stand / Sever
Omladinski Stadion OFK Beograd South Stand / Jug
Gradski Stadion Tvrdjava FK Smederevo North Stand / Sever

Spain

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Stadium Club Stand
Estadio Vicente Calderón Atlético de Madrid Fondo Sur
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu Real Madrid Fondo Sur
Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera Real Betis Gol Sur
Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Sevilla Gol Norte
Estadi RCDE RCD Espanyol Gol Cornellà
Estadio Mestalla Valencia Curva Nord Mario Alberto Kempes
La Rosaleda Málaga CF Frente Bokeron / Brigadas Sur
Estadio Municipal de Riazor Deportivo la Coruña Riazor Blues/Maratón inferior

Sweden

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Stadium Club Stand
Strawberry Arena AIK Norra Stå
Tele2 Arena Djurgårdens IF Sofialäktaren (Södra Stå)
Gamla Ullevi GAIS, Örgryte IS Sektion 23, Östra Stå
Tele2 Arena Hammarby IF Norra Övre: Ultra Boys 1999, E1 Ultras 2013, Hammarbykollektivet
Norra Nedre: Hammarby Ultras 1993, Söder Bröder 1998, Bajen Fans 1981, Bara Bajare 1996
Olympia Helsingborgs IF Södra Stå
Sektion 37
Borås Arena IF Elfsborg Elfsborgsläktaren
Gamla Ullevi IFK Göteborg Kommandobryggan
Nya Parken IFK Norrköping Curva Nordahl
Stadion Malmö FF Norra Ståplats
Behrn Arena Örebro SK Västra Stå
Studenternas IP IK Sirius FK Arkens Gärde

Switzerland

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Stadium Club Stand
Letzigrund FC Zürich Südkurve
St. Jakob-Park FC Basel Muttenzerkurve

Tunisia

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Stadium Club Stand
Stade Olympique de Radès ES Tunis Curva Sud Tunis, Ultras Lemkachkhines 02, Supras Sud 04, Blood & Gold 05
Zapatista Esperanza 07, Fedayn Espérantistes 09
Stade Olympique de Radès Club Africain Curva Nord TunisDodgers north vandals africain winners leaders
Stade Taïeb Mhiri CS Sfaxien Curva Nord Sfax
Stade Olympique de Sousse ES Sahel curva nord sousse brigade rouge saheliano fanatics
Stade Olympique de Gabes Stade Gabésien Curva Sud Gabes
Stade 15 Octobre CA Bizertin Curva Nord Bizerte
Stade Boujemaa Kmiti Olympique Béja Ultras Storia 10

Turkey

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Stadium Club Stand
BJK İnönü Stadı Beşiktaş J.K. Kapalı Tribün
Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium Fenerbahçe SK Türk Telekom Tribünü
Bursa Atatürk Stadium Bursaspor SK Teksas (taraftar grubu)
Karşıyaka Arena Karşıyaka Basket 1912 CURVA (taraftar grubu)

Ukraine

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Dynamo Kyiv fans show in a match against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Stadium Club Stand
Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex Dynamo Kyiv Sector'41 & Sector'43
Dnipro-Arena FC Dnipro Curva Nord (Sector'9)
Ukraina Stadium Karpaty Lviv Sector 15'16
Donbas Arena Shakhtar Donetsk Sector 111'112
Metalist Oblast Sports Complex Metalist Kharkiv Curva South
Chornomorets Stadium Chornomorets Odesa Sector 20
Oleksiy Butovskyi Vorskla Stadium FC Vorskla Poltava Sector 22
Avanhard Stadium FC Volyn Lutsk Sector 17
Slavutych-Arena Metalurh Zaporizhzhia Sʹomyy Sektor
Avanhard Stadium FC Zorya Luhansk Sector'7

See also

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References

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Specific
  1. ^ "Football in Rome". Italy Heaven. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  2. ^ "LO STADIO OLIMPICO". Archived from the original on 6 August 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  3. ^ Micheal Lehane (7 January 2004). "Soccer: Roma Therapy". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 9 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
  4. ^ a b "Il Derby della Capitale". CBC News. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
General
  • Testa, A. and Armstrong, G. (2008). "Words and actions: Italian ultras and neo-fascism" Social Identities, vol. 14 (4), pp. 473 – 490
  • Testa, A. (2009) "UltraS: an Emerging Social Movement", Review of European Studies, vol. 1 (2), 54–63
  • Testa, A. (2010). Contested Meanings: the Italian Media and the UltraS. Review of European Studies, vol 2(1), 15–24
  • Testa, A. and Armstrong, G. (in press; November 2010). Football, Fascism and Fandom: The UltraS of Italian Football, A&C (Bloomsbury), London, Black Publishers.
  NODES
Association 1
INTERN 2
Note 1