Torcidas organizadas antifascistas: uma análise a partir do estudo de caso da resistência caipira

Abstract

Although the Ultras Resistência Coral of the Ferroviário Atlético Clube in the city of Fortaleza (CE), founded in 2005, is considered to be the first anti-fascist fan club in Brazil, 2018 has seen the emergence of several self-described anti-fascist soccer fans, in reaction to a context of rising conservatism. The union of fans from different clubs, including rivals, has led to protests against the Bolsonaro government and in favor of democracy. One of the collectives that emerged at the time was the Torcida Resistência Caipira of Botafogo de São Paulo, which played an important role in the political positions of the club from the city of Ribeirão Preto. This dissertation aims to analyze the action strategies of antifascist supporters based on the case study of Torcida Resistência Caipira do Botafogo/SP. Methodologically, online interviews were conducted with members of Resistência Caipira in order to understand its history, the causes it defends, its organizational processes and its relations with the club and other supporters. An interview was also conducted with the current president of Botafogo de São Paulo. The researcher also carried out an observation on the day of a Botafogo/SP match at the Nicnet Arena, to check the pre-match, the performance of the Resistência Caipira supporters during the match, the post-match and the relationship between the members of Resistência Caipira and the other organized supporters of the club. The results point, in the case studied, to the defence of a broad concept of “anti-fascism” - linked to progressive agendas and a critique of the “arenization” of soccer - and to a process of formalization of the fanbase, as a legitimization strategy in relation to the club and the other organized supporters of Botafogo/SP.