Belgrade gave criminals, Zagreb politicians, and Sarajevo heroes!

Fan groups have always had great socio-political significance, and such Belgrade and Zagreb subcultural groups were used to escalate nationalism that led the former country into disintegration and war. The then leaders of the fan groups of the most popular football clubs had great influence and were undoubtedly deeply connected to politics, as well as the criminal underworld.

Reporters of the BiH news agency Patria (NAP) tried to obtain information about where and how the pre-war fan leaders ended up - former leaders of Željo's "Manijaci", loyal followers of FK Sarajevo "Horde zla", Belgrade's "Grobari" and "Delije", or leaders of Zagreb's "Bad Blue Boys".

The leaders of Serbian fans are mostly criminals and convicted offenders who were used by the then authorities for the dirtiest jobs. Many of them were eventually killed themselves or are serving long prison sentences.

For example, war criminal Željko Ražnatović Arkan, who emerged in public as the leader of "Delije", fans of the Belgrade club "Crvena zvezda", before the breakup of SFRY, was killed in January 2000 in the Hotel Intercontinental in Belgrade.

He was the leader of the paramilitary unit "Serbian Volunteer Guard" and a criminal with deep connections in politics.

Interestingly, Arkan's legacy continues to leave its mark on football in the region, so due to direct contacts with the criminal Arkan, a contract between the management of FK Sarajevo and the Serbian coach Ljupko Petrović, who was supposed to take over the coaching position of the maroon club, was not signed in Sarajevo a few months ago.

Most of the pioneers of organized fan culture in Croatia are no longer alive, and during their lives, they were very influential in the political circles of this country. This is best shown by the funeral of the founder of the "Bad Blue Boys", fans of Dinamo Zagreb, Vladimir Galoić Dugi, at the end of March this year, when a large number of people from public and political life from all over Croatia and even Serbia appeared at Mirogoj.

Funeral of the founder of the fan group of Dinamo Zagreb: State honors

At the same time, in BiH, the pre-war leaders of the largest fan groups, "Manijaci" and "Horde zla", had a completely different role.

The leader of Željo's fans before the aggression against BiH, Dževad Begić Džilda, lost his life as a hero and defender of the city. He was killed by a sniper bullet in July 1992 while saving a wounded fellow citizen in Pofalići. The bullet came from Grbavica, for which Džilda lived his whole life. His brother Izet was also killed a few months later. One of the streets in Sarajevo today bears the name "Braće Begić".

The pioneers of organized fan culture at Košev, Amir Puzić Džine and Enes Sijarić Sirko, together with a few other friends, founded and led the fan group "Horde zla" before the war. According to Patria agency research, both lead peaceful lives today. Sirko, as we learn, works as a driver in a state institution. Both were members of the Army of RBiH.

It is not uncommon for those who believe that political centers of power still use fan groups as their voting base. Also, it is not uncommon for individuals or smaller groups to be used in situations of unrest or demonstrations.

Dževad Begić Đilda: Hero from Grbavica died defending Sarajevo

Sociologist Salih Fočo, a professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo, explains to the BiH news agency Patria that it is evident that politicians, especially mayors, win elections more easily and stay in power longer if they are close to local fan groups.

He believes that politicians who are popular among fan groups are most often popular among the entire community because they show interest in the problems of ordinary people, which is later returned to them in elections through the number of votes.

- Just socializing of politicians with such people, fan groups, other citizens sends a message that they are interested in their problems, which people recognize and return through votes in elections - says Fočo.