{"product_id":"ultra-tobias-jones-9781786697370","title":"Ultra: The Underworld of Italian Football","description":"\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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Tobias Jones\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1786697378\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781786697370\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Head of Zeus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/01\/2021\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 432\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.70lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.50h x 4.90w x 1.20d","brand":"Tobias Jones","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46807249879295,"sku":"9781786697370","price":16.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_8bf7c8dd-b0db-400f-b0de-8b44a546670e.jpg?v=1745378940","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/ultra-tobias-jones-9781786697370","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}