Tifo

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Tifo consisting of a large blanket and fireworks at FC Twente - SC Heerenveen in 2002.

Tifo, originally a short form for the Italian word tifosi, meaning supporters, is mostly used as a name for any spectacular choreography displayed by supporters on the terraces of an arena or stadium in connection with a sport event, mostly an association football match.

Tifos are most commonly seen in important matches, local derbies and rivalries and although the tradition originated at club teams, some national teams also have fans that organize tifos on a regular basis^[1]. Tifos are primarily arranged by an ultra grouping or a supporter club to show their love to the club, but are sometimes sponsored or arranged by the club itself.

1 History
2 Materials
3 See also
4 External links
5 References

[edit] History

The tifo culture, like the origin of its name, has its roots in Italy, and Southern Europe. It has much in common with the Ultras culture and appeared at the same time, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It has spread since and has taken over as the dominating football culture in Europe that in the 1970s and 1980s was held by the English culture.

Tifos can now be seen in most parts of Europe, from Portugal to Scandinavia and Russia. Still, the Italian, and Spanish tifos are dominating, with supporter groupings having a better economy and larger fanbase. Not surprisingly, North America has also witnessed the Tifo culture rise, predominantly with fans located in culturally diverse cities, such as Montreal and Toronto in Canada and Portland, Oregon in the United States.

A card display mosaic tifo at Montreal's Claude-Robillard Centre.

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[edit] Materials

Simple tifo on an IFK Göteborg match, including paper rolls, flags of different sizes, two-pin flags and plastic banners.

Materials used to create tifos include:

sheets of plastic or paper forming a pattern, like a sort of mosaic
large flags and banners
huge painted blankets
two-pin flags
confetti
balloons
paper rolls
flares (bengal fires) and other fireworks
large dolls and mascots
scarves

A card display mosaic tifo at Rangers' Ibrox Stadium.

An international soccer game involving Peru and Brazil at the Estadio Monumental "U". Peruvians are holding a jersey-shaped tifo before the start of the game.

The tifo is often displayed for only a few minutes, often when the teams enter the pitch or at the start of the match. Planning a tifo can range large ones from taking several weeks, and several days before the match to prepare, costing large sums of money, to smaller tifos where the supporters hold up their scarves at a certain time and throwing confetti in the air, taking only a few minutes to prepare.