Antifa Tactics vs Hooligan Warfare
There are some striking parallels between the tactics used by Antifa groups like Rose City Antifa and European football hooligans. Both operate in high-stakes, emotionally charged environments where group dynamics, anonymity, and a desire for confrontation dominate. Let’s break it down:
1. Anonymity as Armour
Both Antifa activists and hooligans rely heavily on anonymity to protect themselves. Antifa uses “black bloc” tactics, dressing in black clothing and covering their faces with masks to avoid identification by authorities or opponents. Similarly, hooligans often use scarves, balaclavas, or even team colours to conceal their identities during clashes.
This anonymity serves two purposes: it shields individuals from legal repercussions and emboldens them to act more aggressively, knowing they are less likely to face personal consequences.
2. Groupthink and Pack Mentality
Hooligans and Antifa both thrive on the psychology of groupthink. In both cases, the collective identity overrides individual judgement, creating a “mob mentality” where actions are amplified by the energy of the group.
For hooligans, this often manifests as violence at football matches, driven by tribal loyalty to their team. For Antifa, it’s about enacting direct action against perceived fascists, with the group dynamic intensifying the hostility and determination to confront.
3. Strategic Use of Violence
Violence is central to the tactics of both groups, though justified differently. European hooligans use it as a means of asserting dominance, defending their “territory,” or settling grudges with rival groups. For Antifa, violence is framed as a necessary tool to combat what they perceive as the existential threat of fascism.
Despite the ideological differences, the outcome is the same: calculated, often premeditated clashes with opponents. Both groups often arrive prepared with improvised weapons, shields, and protective gear, indicating a clear expectation of violence.
4. Territoriality
Hooligans defend their turf—be it a stadium, neighbourhood, or city—with ferocious loyalty. Similarly, Antifa groups see urban centres, particularly progressive ones, as their strongholds. Cities like Portland become symbolic battlegrounds where they aim to repel the presence of far-right groups.
This sense of territoriality often leads to clashes in highly visible, symbolic public spaces. For hooligans, it’s the arena; for Antifa, it might be a courthouse, public square, or protest site.
5. Pre-Arranged Confrontations
Both hooligans and Antifa thrive on confrontation, often setting the stage for it in advance. Hooligans may arrange fights with rival fans in “off-site” locations or provoke altercations on match days. Similarly, Antifa monitors far-right events, rallies, or marches, planning counter-protests designed to escalate into direct conflict.
In both cases, the clash is not accidental—it’s a desired outcome, prepared for and fuelled by mutual animosity.
6. Online Networks and Coordination
Modern football hooligans and Antifa activists alike use online platforms to organise and mobilise. Hooligan firms coordinate meetups and fights via encrypted messaging apps and forums. Antifa does the same, relying on private channels to plan protests, counter-protests, and group actions.
Social media also serves as a tool for boasting about exploits, recruiting new members, and spreading propaganda, further reinforcing the sense of identity and mission for both groups.
7. Destruction as a Statement
For both hooligans and Antifa, property damage is a hallmark of their activities. Hooligans might vandalise rival clubs’ property or destroy public infrastructure around stadiums during riots. Antifa, particularly during protests, targets businesses, government buildings, and other symbols of “capitalist oppression.”
In both cases, the destruction serves as a visceral, visible form of expression, showcasing power, defiance, or ideological anger.
8. Fluid Membership and Leadership
Neither group has a rigid hierarchy, which makes them difficult to dismantle. Hooligan firms are loosely organised, with informal leaders emerging based on reputation or strength. Similarly, Antifa groups operate without a formal leadership structure, relying on decentralised, grassroots organisation.
This fluidity allows both groups to adapt quickly and evade responsibility. It also makes it challenging for law enforcement to track or control their activities.
The Key Difference: Ideology vs. Tribalism
The main distinction lies in motivation. Hooligans are primarily driven by tribal loyalty and rivalry—an identity rooted in sports culture and tradition. Antifa, on the other hand, justifies its actions through its ideological commitment to fighting fascism, racism, and capitalism.
Yet, in practice, the lines blur. The confrontations, the tactics, and the chaos often eclipse the motivations, leaving both hooligans and Antifa open to accusations of acting for the sake of violence rather than a cause.
