Grobari
Encyclopedia
| Grobari Jug | |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Nicknames | Grobari Jug |
| Arenas | Stadion FK Partizan, Pionir Hall Pionir Hall Pionir Hall, or Pionir Arena is a sports arena in Belgrade, Serbia, located in the Belgrade's municipality of Palilula... |
| Official Website | juznifront.com izaberipartizan.com |
Grobari (Serbian Cyrillic: Гробари, Gravediggers) are supporters of the Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
football club Partizan Belgrade
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
. They are one of two major football fan groups in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. They generally support all clubs within the Partizan Sports Society
Partizan Belgrade
Jugoslovensko Sportsko Društvo Partizan, commonly abbreviated as JSD Partizan is a sports association from Belgrade, Serbia. Founded on 4th October 1945, it's an umbrella organization featuring 26 clubs in 26 sports.-Sports/Clubs:-History:...
, and mostly wear black and white symbols, which are the club's colors.
Today, Grobari consist of three main groups: Južni Front, Grobari 1970 and Grobari Beograd, with various subgroups form the three larger ones. Some of the subgroups are Ofanziva, Alcatraz, Grobari Zvezdara, Erotica, Grobari Padinjak, Anti-Romi, Niški kartel, Čuvari časti, South Family, Brain Damage, Grobari Nikšić, Head Hunters, Irriducibili NBG, Shadows, 'Extreme Boys, Ludaci - Padinska Skela, Young Boys,Grobari Kosmet,Grobari Kratovo,Grobari Kraljevo etc.
The group as a whole traditionally maintains good relations with the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
PAOK
PAOK
The Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans , abbreviated P.A.O.K. , is a Macedonian sports club in Thessaloniki, Greece. The club is home to several teams, including football, basketball, volleyball, handball, water polo, swimming, wrestling, hockey and weightlifting. P.A.O.K. was...
football club supporters Gate 4, as well as with the fans of Bulgarian PFC CSKA Sofia
PFC CSKA Sofia
PFC CSKA Sofia , commonly known as CSKA or CSKA Sofia is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria. The club was officially founded on May 5, 1948. CSKA's abbreviation stands for Central Sports Club of the Army...
, Russian PFC CSKA Moscow and Romanian FC Steaua Bucharest.
History
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
fan supporters began to visit the JNA stadium in the late 1950s. Those were mainly young men from Belgrade, and they occupied southern stands of the stadium. In those times, support was expressed by loud singing as well as polling of referees and opposite team's players.
Partizan's participation in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
final in 1966 attracted much more fans to the stadium, and is considered to be the crucial moment of the organized fans moving to a south stand of the stadium where they are gathering up to this day. Steady group by the Grobari name was formed in 1970. and during the following decade, as well as all over Europe, Grobari started bringing fan equipments to the stadiums such as flares
Flare (pyrotechnic)
A flare, also sometimes called a fusee, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for signalling, illumination, or defensive countermeasures in civilian and military applications...
, supporting scarfs, transparents and flags (in the late 70's), which gave a whole new aspect to the sport club supporting.
By the 1980s, Grobari were one of the largest and most organized fan groups in SFR Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
and began outmarching to all Partizan's games across the country and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Because of their expressed hooliganism
Hooliganism
Hooliganism refers to unruly, destructive, aggressive and bullying behaviour. Such behaviour is commonly associated with sports fans. The term can also apply to general rowdy behaviour and vandalism, often under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs....
toward other club's supporters in those times, fans who represented the core of the Grobari firm were often referred to as a "punishment expedition". In 1987, Grobari in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
formed a group under the name of Gravediggers Toronto 1987.
Južni Front
In 1999, there was a big split when the newly formed fan group named Južni Front (Southern Front) accused several top members of the Grobari 1970 organization for abusing their privileges, and the club itself for favorising those individuals. Grobari 1970 were actually accused of manipulating with the money given by the club for organizing fan support. Several hundred members of Južni Front left the traditional south stand and occupied the north stand of the stadium. The split lasted for a few years until 2005, when the fans settled their differences.In the 1990s, the unique, yet unofficial mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
of mostly all Grobari fan groups was an angry looking bulldog
Bulldog
Bulldog is the name for a breed of dog commonly referred to as the English Bulldog. Other Bulldog breeds include the American Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge and the French Bulldog. The Bulldog is a muscular heavy dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose...
, but in the last few years it has been a sexton
Sexton (office)
A sexton is a church, congregation or synagogue officer charged with the maintenance of its buildings and/or the surrounding graveyard. In smaller places of worship, this office is often combined with that of verger...
standing next to his shovel.
Boycott (2005-2007)
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
being eliminated from the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
qualifications, followed by elimination from the first round of the UEFA cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
and from the national cup
Yugoslav Cup
The Yugoslav Cup, officially the Marshal Tito Cup, was one of two major football competitions in the former Yugoslavia, the other one being the Yugoslav League Championship. The Yugoslav Cup took place after the league championships when every competitive league in Yugoslavia had finished, in order...
competition by a third division team, as well as poor results in the domestic league (all at the start of the 2005/06 season), Grobari declared a complete boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
of all Partizan football club matches. Several thousand supporters gathered in September 2005 in front of the club stadium and publicly accused sports director Nenad Bjeković
Nenad Bjekovic
Nenad Bjeković is a Serbian footballer of the late 1960s, 1970s who was very successful with OGC Nice in French Division 1...
and general secretary Žarko Zečević
Žarko Zecevic
Žarko Zečević is a Serbian retired basketball player, former football administrator, and current businessman...
of tampering with the club's operating budget and transfer policy in order to line their own pockets. On this occasion, they also reminded the public of some previous club officials' machinations.
They demanded club management resignations as a condition for getting back to the stadium stands. Grobari repeated the massive gathering and reiterated their demands in October 2005 in front of the national theatre in downtown Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
where Partizan's officials were celebrating the club's 60th year anniversary. Both city football derbies
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
between Red Star and Partizan in the 2005/06 season were played without traditional support toward Partizan from the south stands. Although these matches used to gather up tens of thousands and even more fans to the stadiums, the infamous record was established this season when there was only a few thousand spectators on the Partizan stadium, since the rival fans also agreed to boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
the derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
(but for other reasons).
After certain changes in the club board, Grobari decided to stop boycotting. On May 26, 2007 they returned to the stadium for a Superliga match against Mladost Apatin
FK Mladost Apatin
FK Mladost Apatin is a football club from Apatin, Serbia.-History:The club was founded in 1928, then known by the name of Tri Zvezde . In 1950, the club changes its name to Mladost . Team colour is red...
which Partizan won 7-1, however they kept on singing insulting songs about Partizan's sports director and general secretary.
By the end of the year both Bjeković and Zečević resigned from their positions.
2007-08 ban from Europe
In 2007/08 UEFA cup, Partizan Belgrade was disqualified from further competition because of football hooliganism against Zrinjski MostarHŠK Zrinjski Mostar
HŠK Zrinjski Mostar is a football team from the city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club plays in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and has been one of the top teams in the country over the years....
. Grobari traveled in numbers to Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
where they fought with the police and also Zrinjski fans
Ultras Zrinjski
Ultras-Zrinjski, official: Klub navijača Ultras-Zrinjski Mostar is the organisation of football supporters of the football club HSK Zrinjski Mostar. They support all sports teams under HŠK Zrinjski .The fan club's name was given in 1993...
. Partizan won the tie 11-1 on aggregate.
Split in 2011
In late August, 2011 another split among Grobari occurred. A fraction of fans calling themselves Zabranjeni (forbidden) accused the club board of forbidding them entrance to the stadium. They are also in disagreement with some other Grobari subgroups, primarily Alkatraz. Since than, Zabranjeni are not attending any of FK PartizanFK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
games. Instead, they attend the games of other teams from Partizan Sport Society, such as ice hockey
HK Partizan
Hokejaški klub Partizan is a Serbian professional ice hockey club from Belgrade. HK Partizan is one of the sport clubs that are part of Partizan sport society. They play their home games at Pionir. The club currently plays in the Slohokej Liga and the Serbian Hockey League. HK Partizan has won 15...
or women's basketball
ŽKK Partizan
Ženski košarkaški klub Partizan Galenika is a Serbian basketball team from Belgrade, Serbia. It is part of the multi-sports club Partizan. The club currently plays in Women's Serbian League, Adriatic League Women and EuroCup Women. ŽKK Partizan is a holder of 5 National Championships and 3...
teams.
External links
- Official JUŽNI FRONT site (in Serbian languageSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
only) - Choose Partizan - History of Grobari (in Serbian languageSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
only) - Partizan.Net - Unofficial fan site (in SerbianSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
and EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) - Grobari from Kruševac (in Serbian languageSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
only) - Grobari Video - YouTube (in Serbian languageSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
only) - Grobari.org - Mnogo Smo Jaki (in Serbian languageSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
only) - Nebeski Grobari (Heavenly Gravediggers) by Vujčić