{"product_id":"ultra-the-underworld-of-italian-football-paperback","title":"Ultra: The Underworld of Italian Football - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eTobias Jones\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWinner of the \u003ci\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e Football Book of the Year \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUltras are often compared to punks, Hell's Angels, hooligans or the South American Barras Bravas. But in truth, they are a thoroughly Italian phenomenon... \u003cbr\u003eFrom the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Dark Heart of Italy\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBlood on the Altar\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eA Place of Refuge\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eItaly's ultras are the most organised and violent fans in European football. Many groups have evolved into criminal gangs, involved in ticket-touting, drug-dealing and murder. A cross between the Hell's Angels and hooligans, they're often the foot-soldiers of the Mafia and have been instrumental in the rise of the far-right. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut the purist ultras say that they are are insurgents fighting against a police state and modern football. Only amongst the ultras, they say, can you find belonging, community and a sacred concept of sport. They champion not just their teams, they say, but their forgotten suburbs and the dispossessed. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThrough the prism of the ultras, Jones crafts a compelling investigation into Italian society and its favourite sport. He writes about not just the ultras of some of Italy's biggest clubs - Juventus, Torino, Lazio, Roma and Genoa - but also about its lesser-known ones from Cosenza and Catania. He examines the sinister side of football fandom, with its violence and political extremism, but also admires the passion, wit, solidarity and style of a fascinating and contradictory subculture.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTobias Jones is the author of seven previous books, including \u003ci\u003eThe Dark Heart of Italy\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBlood on the Altar\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eA Place of Refuge\u003c\/i\u003e. He has written and presented documentaries for the BBC and for RAI, the Italian state broadcaster, and has been a columnist for the \u003ci\u003eObserver\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eInternazionale\u003c\/i\u003e. He's the co-founder of Windsor Hill Wood, and an occasional midfielder for the England Writers' football team. He lives in Parma, Italy.\u003cbr\u003eTobias Jones is the author of seven previous books, including \u003ci\u003eThe Dark Heart of Italy\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBlood on the Altar\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eA Place of Refuge\u003c\/i\u003e. He has written and presented documentaries for the BBC and for RAI, the Italian state broadcaster, and has been a columnist for the \u003ci\u003eObserver\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eInternazionale\u003c\/i\u003e. He's the co-founder of Windsor Hill Wood, and an occasional midfielder for the England Writers' football team. He lives in Parma, Italy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 432\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.2 x 7.5 x 4.9 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 01, 2021\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51765518106912,"sku":"9781786697370","price":16.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/62e6f1f2ca69fb5151a43d24ee5361a5.webp?v=1780272447","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/ultra-the-underworld-of-italian-football-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}