If you venture just outside the heart of Mostar in Bosnia, you'll spot plenty of football graffiti everywhere.
The most popular fan group is the Red Army. They support Mostar's club Velež. The team won the Yugoslav Cup twice and even made it to the UEFA quarterfinals.
Their golden era was the 1980s. Back then, people from all backgrounds supported the club—Croats, Bosnians, and Serbs alike. It was an incredibly unifying thing. During the peak 1985-86 season, over eight thousand (!) Red Army fans traveled to a match in the Croatian city of Split. That's just under 10% of Mostar's entire population.
Music groups even formed around the movement, dedicating their work to the fans. One of the most famous pieces is the RA anthem.
Everything changed after the war. The level of football dropped dramatically, and the stadium attendance never came back. Mostly Bosnians support the club now, though the movement welcomes everyone with open arms.
The most popular fan group is the Red Army. They support Mostar's club Velež. The team won the Yugoslav Cup twice and even made it to the UEFA quarterfinals.
Their golden era was the 1980s. Back then, people from all backgrounds supported the club—Croats, Bosnians, and Serbs alike. It was an incredibly unifying thing. During the peak 1985-86 season, over eight thousand (!) Red Army fans traveled to a match in the Croatian city of Split. That's just under 10% of Mostar's entire population.
Music groups even formed around the movement, dedicating their work to the fans. One of the most famous pieces is the RA anthem.
Everything changed after the war. The level of football dropped dramatically, and the stadium attendance never came back. Mostly Bosnians support the club now, though the movement welcomes everyone with open arms.
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