Barra brava

Barra brava (lit. 'fierce group') is the name of organized supporters' groups of football teams in Hispanic America that provides fanatical support to their clubs in stadiums and provoke violence against rival fans as well as against the police.

Actions such as welcoming the team when it goes out to the pitch (by the use of pyrotechnics, throwing confetti and balloons, and displaying giant flags); waving and displaying of flags, banners and umbrellas; and the coordination of chants during the whole match, are characteristic of their fervent behavior, whose purpose is to encourage their team while intimidating referees and rival fans and players, for which they also provoke violence.

They also look to attack rival fans or defend their team' spectators from rival attacks (especially in away matches, where normally they are outnumbered by home fans) and police repression.

These groups originated in Argentina in the 1950s and spread throughout the rest of Latin America. They are similar to hooligan firms, torcidas organizadas, and ultras.