It took a while but now it's finally arrived: "Tifare Contro" appears on 01/11/2010 at Burkhardt & Partners , known as the editor of the ultra-mag "eye-catching Ultra". Francesio Giovanni is an Italian Ultras (but the team he has ever known), who has endured it simply no longer after 3 decades with the half-truths, platitudes and lies about the most important Italian youth movement in decades. The book was published in 2008 in the prestigious publishing house Sperling & Kupfer in Italy, and made for some great media coverage and reception. My review of the Italian original is found here .

"Tifare Contro", we have decided to keep the Italian title, 40-year history of the Ultras groupings tells of the origins of the radical left street fighting to the death of Gabriele Sandris 2007 as a temporary high point of a fast moving machinery of repression. It explains and interprets this history through Francesio particularly significant examples, which are unfortunately all too often very violent episodes and "stadium deaths." Without even saying "Ultra" to reduce it, because every line of the book speaks of how much is it the movement at heart. He was not sparing of self-criticism: the author only defines organizational shortcomings, dilapidated stadiums, repression and amateurish appearance of the security forces (such as recently in Genoa in the game Italy against Serbia or in the Serie A encounter Sampdoria Fiorentina ) as the main reasons for the deadlock in the mother country of the Ultras, but also clearly defines the finger in the wound, when it comes to self-inflicted violence spirals on the part of organized Tifo to a lack of willingness to compromise and lack of self-regulatory mechanisms.

Wanted "Tifare Contro" was originally directed to a broader public interested in Italy, not satisfied with the press reports of police or the half-baked scribblings of journalists, who were probably never in a curve. What is in fact an interesting approach to create a broader understanding of youth culture, Ultras. For Germany, I hope that it also read more ultras and even discuss. For while on the boots, the name de Falco, Spagna, Fonghessi, subcultural etc. Spaccarotella are commonplace, call these names in Germany, unfortunately, too often produces only a shrug. The debate has broken out, the Fandemo in Berlin has put an exclamation point: I would like to see if the current debate is concentrated on violence, Pyro and repression by the fact that know as much notice as the course in Italy was, as the current spiral of repression could occur and how a similar situation as in Italy (resolutions Fancarte, prohibition of banners, placards, megaphones, drums and pyro ...) avoid.

I will not be far out on a limb that is Francesio general answers for everything. But he puts his book on an excellent basis for discussion: In TifareContro be the most important stages of 4 decades, "Ultra" in Italy together an example and explained. Is perceived, I would be happy if the book read, discussed, reviewed, discussed, loved, hated, celebrated, vilified, but in any case one of you.

Spread the word: the book discussion in your groups, read it, about it, write blogs and reports for your fanzine, Emulation Links here on this page or here , using social networks and forums, annoying your bookseller. If you interviews, reviews, pictures, or anything else need help, just tell me and I make sure I can do.

And going on right now: "Tifare Contro. A history of Italian ultras "can be ordered at a price of 9.90 EUR Directory! you can give me also a mail to info [squiggle] AltraVita [dot] com Send. Discounts for groups are available, also asks the simple from the publisher or via email to me. Perhaps your group has been ordered in November, but also copies that you can buy in the clubrooms. If not, sucks your capo!

In this sense, it is out. And that's a good thing!

An addendum to our Swiss friends: All clear, there is now also an option of ordering confederates!