AP PHOTOS: Egypt's banned ultras soccer fans take to streets

1	In this July 31, 2015 photo, Zamalek soccer fans celebrate after winning the Egyptian League at Zamalek Club in Cairo, Egypt.
2	The hardcore fan base Ultras White Knights did not celebrate the winning of the team out of respect for more than 20 soccer fans who were crushed to death outside an air defense stadium in Cairo after police fired tear gas to break up the crowd waiting in a fenced, narrow corridor to watch.
3	Police accused the fans of attacking the force, and rioting to enter the stadium on Feb. 8, 2015.
4	Chanting slogans, carrying signs and waving flares, these eager young men who gather in Egypt could be mistaken for Arab Spring demonstrators.
5	And in this country, the recently-banned hardcore soccer fans known as ultras have played a political role.
6	Ultras, whose name comes from the Latin word for "beyond," started in Latin America and Europe in the 1950s before coming to Arab countries.
7	The first to form in Egypt, Ultras White Knights, emerged in 2007 to support the Zamalek team.
8	Groups backing archrival al-Ahly and others followed.
9	Security forces and the media criticize ultras as being little more than violence-prone thugs.
10	It was during Egypt's 2011 revolt that ousted longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak that ultras first took on a political role.
11	Often providing muscle at protests, ultras also directed demonstrators and led chants.
12	They were considered one of the most organized movements in Egypt after the Muslim Brotherhood, which the government outlawed as a terrorist organization following the 2013 military overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
13	Since 2011, ultras have clashed frequently with police.
14	In 2012, a soccer riot involving ultras killed more than 70 people and injured hundreds.
15	In May, a Cairo court banned them over terrorism accusations.
16	The case was filed by Mortada Mansour, the head of Zamalek who has long been at odds with his team's own ultras.
17	White Knights leader Sayed Moshagheb is in jail on incitement charges.
18	Observers have said Egypt's ultras see themselves as offering marginalized youth a chance to vent pent-up frustration through peaceful protests, as opposed to apathy or violence.
19	Here are a series of Associated Press photographs of Egypt's hardcore soccer fans known as ultras.
20	In this Feb. 1, 2015 photo, hardcore soccer fans known as Ultras Ahlawy, light flares and cheer during the third anniversary of people who were killed in the 2012 Port Said soccer riot, at Al -Ahly Sporting Club in Cairo, Egypt.
21	On Feb. 1, 2012 over 70 people were killed in Port Said when Ahly fans were attacked by supporters of Port Said's football team Masry, who stormed the pitch at the end of the match.
22	In this July 19, 2015 photo, Ultras Ahlawy, the hardcore fan base of Al-Ahly football club, watch players train at the Al-Ahly Sporting Club in Cairo, Egypt.
23	Ultras, whose name comes from the Latin word for "beyond," started in Latin America and Europe in the 1950s and eventually made it to Arab countries, with particularly strong followings in North Africa.
24	Groups backing arch-rival al-Ahly and others soon followed.
25	In this July 31, 2015 photo, Zamalek soccer fans celebrate after winning the Egyptian League at the Zamalek Sports Club, in the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, Egypt.
26	In this July 26, 2015 photo, a member of Zamalek's football club's Ultras White Knights group (UWK), the club's hardcore fan base, lights flares during a friend's bachelor party in Cairo, Egypt.
27	The first to form in Egypt, UWK, emerged in 2007 to support the Zamalek team.
28	In this Feb. 9, 2014 photo, the Zamalek football club's hardcore fan group Ultras White Knights (UWK) cheer as security forces stand guard during a soccer match between Zamalek and AS Douanes, during the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League at the Cairo Stadium, in Egypt.
29	Zamalek won 2-0.
30	Banners with the face of a boy, depict Amr Hussein, 18, who was killed on Sept.
31	23, 2013, during clashes between the Ultras members and security forces.
32	In this March 15, 2014 photo, Zamalek football club's hardcore fan group Ultras White Knights (UWK) chant slogans during a protest against police standing guard at stadiums during all matches, in Cairo, Egypt.
33	Often providing muscle at protests, UWK also directed demonstrators and led chants.
34	In this July 31, 2015 photo, Zamalek soccer fans celebrate after winning the Egyptian League at the Zamalek Sports Club in Cairo, Egypt.
35	In this Sept.
36	30, 2013 photo, hardcore sports fans known as Ultras White Knights, protest in front of the High Court in downtown Cairo, Egypt.
37	The fans protested against the death of Egyptian youth Amr Hussein who died from clashes between police, club security forces and fans in front of the Zamalek Sports Club.
38	In this July 26, 2015 photo, members of Zamalek's football club's Ultras White Knights (UWK) group, the club's hardcore fan base, attend a friend's bachelor party in Cairo, Egypt.
39	In this July 26, 2015 photo, members of Zamalek's football club's Ultras White Knights group, the club's hardcore fan base, attend a friend's bachelor party in Cairo, Egypt.
40	In this July 19, 2015 photo, Ultras Ahlawy, the hardcore fan base of Al-Ahly football club, watch players train at the Al - Ahly club in Cairo, Egypt.
41	Arabic on the banner reads, "the Al-Ahly administration: the fans are the most important group to be moved."
42	In this May 13, 2015 photo, men watch a soccer match at a local cafe in Cairo, Egypt.
43	Egyptian authorities have banned fans from attending football games, citing ongoing tension between security forces and Ultras groups since a 2012 stadium disaster in Port Said in which at least 72 football fans were killed.
44	In this Dec. 24, 2013 photo, hardcore sports fans known as Ultras White Knights (UWK), wave their flags with a drawing of Amr Hussein,18, a member of the UWK who died during clashes with security forces in Sept.
45	2013, during a volleyball match between Zamalek and El Tayaran at the Zamalek Club, in Cairo, Egypt.
46	Zamalek Won the match.
47	In this Feb. 8, 2015 photo, family and friends of soccer fans killed during a riot outside a soccer stadium, wait outside Zeinhom morgue in Cairo, Egypt.
48	A riot broke out that Sunday night outside a major soccer game, with a stampede and fighting between police and fans killing over 20, authorities said.
49	The riot, began ahead of a match between Egyptian Premier League clubs Zamalek and ENPPI at Air Defense Stadium east of Cairo.
50	27, 2014 photo, security forces walk during a match between Zamalek and ENPPI at the Arab Contractors Stadium, in Cairo.
51	Egyptian authorities have banned fans from attending football games, citing ongoing tension between security forces and Ultras hardcore soccer fan groups since a 2012 stadium disaster in Port Said in which at least 72 football fans were killed.
52	Arabic on the banner reads, "soccer is for fans."
53	In this July 19, 2015 photo, Ultras Ahlawy, the hardcore fan base of Al-Ahly football club, cheer for team players as they train at the Al-Ahly Sporting Club, in Cairo, Egypt.