Curva
Curva [ˈkurva] (plural: curve [ˈkurve]) is an Italian term or name for curved stands of seating located at sports stadiums, particularly in Italy; so named, originally, due to their curved or bending shape. The curva plays an integral part in the culture of Ultras and European football.
Composition
![](../I/m/San_Siro_Stadium%2C_Inter_fans_Derby_-_2009.jpg)
The majority of stands referred to as a "curva" are located behind the goals in their respective stadiums and contain the most vocal supporters within them, often known as Ultras. They are usually curved in shape, in some form whether minor or major, often due to the presence of a running track around the pitch.[1] The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza provides an example of two prominent stands referred to as "curva", "Curva Nord" and "Curva Sud", which contain only minor curves at their corners, while the Stadio Olimpico provides an example of two completely curved stands. A curva may extend from one corner flag to another or be located centrally behind the goal, bordered by two separate corner sections for ticketing or organizational purposes.[2]
Significance
Being home to the most openly passionate supporters in a stadium, the curva is usually the focal point of a club's support. It is often the scene of dramatic choreographed displays of support and occasionally, disapproval for a team or club.[3] These displays often take on an importance of their own, particularly in games involving rivals where both sets of supporters aim to outdo each other.[4] In certain countries, particularly those where sports clubs and supporters are extremely reflective of the local culture, the curva can become quite politicized in nature.[4] Therefore, it is not uncommon for a curva to be split into individual factions or groups, either solely or partially, based on politics, and for one group to hold significant control of the curva and its inhabitants on match days. Ultras groups within a curva often benefit from this degree of relative uniformity, when there are issues regarding supporters' rights and the commercialization of sports and football in particular.
Locations
Algeria
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
July 5, 1962 Stadium | MC Alger | Ultras Verde Leone (Virage Sud) |
May 19, 1956 Stadium | USM Annaba | Les indepandants de bone (Curva Nord Annaba) |
Stade 20 Août 1955, Skikda | JSM Skikda | Ultras Senza Confine (Curva Sud) |
Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine | CS Constantine | Ultras Green Army (Curva Nord) |
November 1, 1954 Stadium (Tizi Ouzou), Tizi-Ouzou | JS Kabylie | Ultras Kabylie Boys (Zona Amazigh) |
August 20, 1955 Stadium (Algiers), | CR Belouizdad | Ultras Fanatic Reds (Volcana) |
Stade 8 Mai 1945, Setif | ES Setif | Ultras Inferno (Curva Nord) |
Mohamed Boumezrag Stadium, Chlef | ASO Chlef | Ultras Polina (Curva Sud) |
November 1, 1954 Stadium (Batna), Batna | CA Batna | Ultras Aurès Boys (Curva Sud) |
Austria
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
Allianz Stadion | SK Rapid Wien | Block West |
Bulgaria
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
Stadion Asim Ferhatović Hase | Sarajevo | "Vedran Puljić"-Sjever / North Stand |
Stadion Grbavica | Željezničar | Sector C-Jug / South Stand |
Stadion Bilino polje | Čelik | Jug / South Stand |
Tušanj City Stadium | Sloboda | Sjever / North Stand |
Banja Luka City Stadium | Borac | Sjever / North Stand |
Gradski SRC Slavija | Stadion SRC Slavija | Jug / South Stand |
China
Stadium | Club | Stand | Group |
---|---|---|---|
CSUFT East-Garden Stadium | Hunan Billows | Curva Nord | Bad Billows Boys |
Croatia
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
Stadion Maksimir | Dinamo Zagreb | North Stand / Sjever |
Stadion Poljud | HNK Hajduk Split | North Stand / Sjever |
Stadion Kantrida | HNK Rijeka | West Stand / Zapad |
Stadion Gradski Vrt | NK Osijek | SouthEast/East Stand /Jugoistok/Istok |
Stadion Alde Drosine | NK Istra 1961 | North Stand / Sjever |
Cyprus
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
GSP Stadium | AC Omonia Nicosia | North Stand/Gate-9 |
GSP Stadium | APOEL FC | South Stand/AU79 |
Tsirion Stadium | AEL Limassol | East Stand/Gate-3 |
Tsirion Stadium | Apollon Limassol | West Stand/Gate-1 |
Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium | Anorthosis Famagusta FC | South Stand/Maxhtec |
Denmark
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
Aalborg Portland Park | Aalborg BK | Vesttribunen |
Blue Water Arena | Esbjerg fB | Nordvestkurve |
Viborg Stadion | Viborg FF | Sydtribunen |
Brøndby Stadion | Brøndby IF | Sydsiden (earlier Faxetribunen) |
Telia Parken | FC Copenhagen | Sektion 12 |
TRE-FOR Park | Odense BK | Stiften |
NRGi Park | Aarhus GF | Speakers Corner |
Egypt
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
Cairo International Stadium | Al Ahly SC | Ultras Ahlawy/Curva Nord |
Cairo International Stadium | Zamalek SC | Ultras White Knights/Curva Sud |
Port Said Stadium | Al-Masry SC | Ultras Green Eagles |
Suez Stadium | Suez Montakhab | Ultras Suez Fedyan |
Ghazl El Mahalla Stadium | Ghazl El Mahalla SC | Ultras Whales 2008 |
Ismailia Stadium | Ismaily SC | Ultras Yellow Dragons |
Alexandria Stadium | Al Ittihad Alexandria Club | Ultras Green Magic |
Finland
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
Helsinki Olympic Stadium | Finland national football team | Pohjoiskaarre |
Sonera Stadium | HJK Helsinki | Klubipääty |
Malta
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
Ta' Qali Stadium | Valletta F.C. | Ultras Beltin 999 |
Ta' Qali Stadium | Birkirkara F.C. | Ultras Birkirkara 97 |
Hibernians Stadium | Hibernians F.C. | Paola Boys Hibs Ultras 07 |
Sirens Stadium | Sirens F.C. | Ultras Sireni 16 |
Centenary Stadium | Marsa F.C. | Ultras Marsin 10 |
Ta' Qali Stadium | Sliema Wanderers F.C. | Sliema Ultras 2008 |
Centenary Stadium | Tarxien Rainbows F.C. | Tarxien Ultras 2014 |
Gozo Stadium | Xewkija Tigers F.C. | 12th Tiger Supporters Club |
Gozo Stadium | Nadur Youngsters F.C. | White Force Nadur Ultras |
Gozo Stadium | Ghajnsielem F.C. | Black Pride 2007 |
Gozo Stadium | Xaghra United F.C. | Blue Warriors Xaghra Ultras |
Gharb Stadium | Gharb Rangers F.C. | West Blue Army est.2013 |
Luxol Stadium | Melita F.C. | Melita Supporters Club |
France
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
Stade Armand Cesari | SC Bastia | Est/Petrignani |
Stade Chaban-Delmas | Girondins de Bordeaux | Virage Sud |
Stade Vélodrome | Olympique de Marseille | Virage Nord/Sud |
Parc des Princes | Paris Saint-Germain FC | Kop of Boulogne/Virage Auteuil |
Germany
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
Signal Iduna Park | Borussia Dortmund | Südtribüne/Gelbe Wand |
Olympiastadion/Allianz Arena | Bayern München | Südkurve |
Volkswagen Arena | Wolfsburg | Nordkurve |
Commerzbank-Arena | Eintracht Frankfurt | Nordwestkurve |
Fritz-Walter-Stadion | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | Westkurve |
Max Morlock Stadion | 1. FC Nürnberg | Nordkurve |
AWD-Arena | Hannover 96 | Nordkurve |
Weserstadion | Werder Bremen | Ostkurve |
Olympiastadion | Hertha BSC | Ostkurve Hertha BSC |
Veltins-Arena | FC Schalke 04 | Nordkurve |
Borussia Park | Borussia Mönchengladbach | Nordkurve |
BayArena | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | Nordkurve |
Greece
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
Peristeri Stadium | Atromitos F.C. | Fentagin |
Apostolos Nikolaidis | Panathinaikos F.C. | Gate 13 |
Karaiskaki Stadium | Olympiacos F.C. | Gate 7 |
Toumba Stadium | PAOK F.C. | Gate 4 |
Olympic Stadium (Athens) | AEK Athens F.C. | Original 21 |
Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium | Aris F.C. | Super-3 |
Kaftanzoglio Stadium | Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C. | Autonomous Gate 10 |
AEL FC Arena | AEL 1964 F.C. | Monsters Gate 1 |
Genti Koule | OFI Crete | Snakes Gate 4 |
Nea Smyrni Stadium | Panionios | Panthers Gate 3 |
India
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
Salt Lake Stadium, East Bengal Ground | East Bengal F.C. | Curva Nord |
Indonesia
Ireland
Stadium | Club | Stand |
---|---|---|
Turner's Cross | Cork City FC | The Shed End |
Italy
Macedonia
Stadium | Club | Stand | Group |
---|---|---|---|
Philip II Arena | FK Vardar | West Stand | Komiti |
Malaysia
Stadium | Team/Club | Stand | Group |
---|---|---|---|
Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil | Malaysia National Football Team | Curva Ultras Malaya 07 | Ultras Malaya |
Stadium Bolasepak Kuala Lumpur | Kuala Lumpur Football Team | Droogs Curva | Kuala Lumpur Ultras (the Cityboys) |
Shah Alam Stadium | Selangor FA | Green Curva Nord | ultraSel |
Stadium Perak | Perak FA | Silvermania Curva / Belang Tarung Tiga Warna | Silver State Ultras |
Stadium Negeri | Sarawak FA | Curva Distrixtigabelas | GB-13 |
Darul Makmur Stadium | Pahang FA | Curva Sebelas | Elephant Army |
Tan Sri Dato Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium | Johor Darul Ta'zim FC | Boys Of Straits | |
Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium | Kelantan FA | Gate H Boys | |
Darul Aman Stadium | Kedah FA | Terrace 1- T1 | Ultras Kedah |
Likas Stadium | Sabah FA | North Borneo Ultras | |
Stadium Sultan Mizan Zainal Abiddin | Terengganu FA | Curva Gong Badak | Ultras Tranung |
Morocco
Stade El Massira | Olympique Club de Safi OCS | Ultras Shark 06 /Curva Arena |
Stade Mohamed V | Raja Casablanca | Ultras Green Boys 05 /Curva Sud magana |
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium | Association Sportive des FAR | Ultras Askary Rabat 2005, Black Army 1427 / Curva Che |
Stade de Marrakech | Kawkab Marrakech | Ultras crazy boys 2006 /Curva Sud 36 (Mitica) |
Stade Mohamed V | Wydad Casablanca | ultras winners 2005 /Curva Nord |
Stade Adrar | Hassania Agadir | Ultras Imazighen 2006/Curva Sud
Ultras Red Rebels/ Curva Nord |
Stade Saniat Rmel | Moghreb Tetouan | Ultras Los Matadores 2005 - Ultras Siempre Paloma 2006 / Gate 3 - Curva Norte |
Stade Mimoun Al Arsi | Chabab Rif Al Hoceima | Ultras Los Rifeños 2012/Curva Rifeña |
Ibn Batouta Stadium | Ittihad Riadi Tanger | Ultra Hercules 2007/Curva Loca |