What is tifo, why are they common and how are they made?

‘Tifo’ means a flag or banner that is held up by fans during a match, deriving from ‘tifosi’, which means a group of sports fans.

The culture originates from Italy and southern Europe and has fast spread across the continent.

Banners are planned and created by supporters clubs – a unique, visual dedication to their club or a specific player or sometimes a political or social message.

Clubs can also sometimes get involved in the planning process.

They are usually huge and visually spectacular – and make use of club colours – running the entire height or length of a stand.

They can also be like a giant mosaic, where fans come together to hold coloured card or material to form a single image.

They are revealed by fans in the stands before a game, and are intended to add to the atmosphere.