Every organized crime group has an origin story — some with ancient roots through a century or more. Others spring up on street corners and change as fast as the names can be painted on alley walls. And some, like this one, start off as sports fans. Let me tell you about it.
CHECK OUT MY BONUS CONTENT AND OTHER PERKS ON PATREON: [ Ссылка ]
The Mob Reporter here with news of rabid fans of football clubs in Poland that moved from game-day hooliganism to straight-up international crime gangs.
More evidence came this week with raids and arrests in Poland and Spain of international drug traffickers spanning much of continental Europe who are leaders of a group of rabid football fans that escalated its outlaw penchant far beyond the stadiums they professed to love.
Most European countries take their football seriously. This is the football that some call soccer. Some fans are more off-kilter in their devotion than others. English fans were leaders in turning sport into violent fanaticism, giving us two terms, both “football hooligan” — for the men more interested in brawling than enjoying the beautiful game — and “firm” — the name of organizations of hooligans.
When the Iron Curtain of Soviet domination fell, Western culture washed over Poland in waves. Many of the tough and intense fans of Poland’s football clubs took a liking to the English model of hooliganism. In Krakow, Poland’s second largest city, fans of its two leading professional football teams — Wisla Krakow and Cracovia — hardened into rival firms. More recently, stricter policing reduced stadium violence and some firms found another outlet for their true passions. The firms became bona fide organized crime groups.
And police began tampering them down. Over the last couple of years, there have been several raids and arrests linked by police to the hooligan firms of Krakow. Over the three or so years of the ongoing targeting, more than 70 people have been arrested with links to the firms.
It all seems a long way from cheering on a football team.
Thanks for watching.
CREDITS:
Music is "Basa Basa Beat" by Nana Kwabena.
Some footie flares footage from Ultras Avanti, with much more available to see here: [ Ссылка ];
Krackow derby footage from Branislav Račko, with more available here: [ Ссылка ];
Wisła Kraków supporters photo by Piotr Drabik - Flickr : "Armia Białej Gwiazdy", CC BY 2.0, [ Ссылка ]; Cracovia supporters photo by Piotr Drabik - Flickr : Kibice Cracovii, CC BY 2.0, [ Ссылка ].
~ The Mob Reporter is a professional journalist bringing you real-life mob, police and true crime news and educational videos.
~ PLEASE SUBSCRIBE: [ Ссылка ]
~ Please subscribe to my other channels:
• Crime Watch: [ Ссылка ]
• Crime in Italy: [ Ссылка ]
~ To read my written journalism in the National Post, visit: [ Ссылка ]
Please like, share, comment and subscribe.
-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-
You'll love: "Genius jewel heist wrecked by sloppy mistakes": [ Ссылка ]
-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-

свернуть