Nothing like a bit of added 'fan-power'

Football fans – so much springs to mind. Irrational rivalry, mass releases of anger and euphoric celebrations which borderline on insanity. However, in England one word which doesn’t present itself immediately is ‘power’.

Yes, we’ve all seen a club sack a manager or drop a player who was on the wrong side of the paying punters. But considering football fans are the core of their club – it’s hard to feel they really have a massive say.

Viola Fans show their true colours

In Italy, the situation is oh so slightly different – the ultras as they are known have a slice of the action in deciding the fate of their club. Unbelievably, it’s the bigger the better as far of supporters are concerned with clubs such as Milan, Juventus and Lazio being among the most democratic!

So what do you do in Italy when your team plays badly? Shout sack the manager or boo the players off if you’re really aggrieved you’d suppose…

Or, if you’re a Fiorentina fan, you barricade the players in their changing room to express your disgust. And after a 1-0 home defeat to Serie A minnows Lecce, that’s exactly what fans of Viola did.

Not strictly true – in fact it was the players themselves who took the drastic action of barricading themselves in the dressing room as some 600 ultras raged through the stadium looking to give their underperforming players a piece of their mind.

Fiorentina currently languish at 13^th in the Italian top flight – disappointing for a side boasting international talents such as Gamberini, Koldrup and Montolivio. Goalkeeper Artur Boruc apparently led the defensive measures on and off the pitch when furious fans threatened to invade their side’s changing room to prove a point.

Perhaps this is one to consider the next time we’re condemning the ‘Steve Kean Out’ brigade or more poignantly sympathising with Darlington fans as they watch their beloved club slip away from their very finger tips.

The balance of power in English football is not with the fans one iota – this example from Italy obviously shows why in a way it’s probably a good thing. But it does seem that it’s becoming increasingly difficult for fans of any club to make themselves heard.

Ending back in Italy; when Paulo Maldini retired from AC Milan in May 2009 on what English fans would naively presume was a joyous celebration; a very thought-provoking banner was unfurled.

Give or take translation, it read: “Infinite Champion on the pitch, but you forgot to respect the people who made you rich!”

The relationship between fans and their clubs is changing, and if Milan can see past Maldini’s achievements for his shortcomings as an ambassador, maybe we should assess our own stars in a much harsher light.