Viole Maribor

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Viole Maribor
AbbreviationVM89
Founded1989
Type Supporters' groups
Ultras group
Team NK Maribor
Headquarters Maribor, Slovenia
Stadium
StandSouth
Colors  Purple,   yellow,   white
Website violemaribor.com

Viole Maribor, or simply Viole, are a Slovenian ultras group that supports NK Maribor. Founded in 1989, they are one of the two major ultras groups in Slovenia, the other being their traditional rivals, Green Dragons, the supporters of NK Olimpija Ljubljana. [1]

Contents

The group is known for hooliganism [2] and clashes with the police and fans of other groups, especially with fans of their biggest rivals, Olimpija. [3] [4] [5] Historically, members of Viole Maribor have been affiliated with the nationalist group Hervardi and the nationalist Party of Slovenian People. [6] [7] Among the notable figures associated with Viole is the former leader of the group Andrej Šiško, a political activist and convicted criminal. [8] [9]

History

The first organised support at NK Maribor match occurred on 2 August 1989, when the club played against Spartak Subotica in the Yugoslav Cup. The supporters group was initially called Marinci ("Marines") and consisted mainly of schoolchildren around 14 years old. In 1991, in the last match before Slovenia's independence, the name was changed to Viole Maribor. [10]

Viole Maribor in the South Stand of Ljudski vrt. Viole - Maribor 089.jpg
Viole Maribor in the South Stand of Ljudski vrt.

In April 2010, after a derby match between Olimpija Ljubljana and Maribor, Marko Živko, a 27-year-old member of Viole Maribor, stabbed a 23-year-old Green Dragons member under the armpits during a post-match clash in Ljubljana. The attack was treated by the court as attempted manslaughter. Živko denied guilt throughout the trial, and some witnesses recanted their statements, but the Ljubljana District Court found sufficient evidence of intent to kill and sentenced him to seven years in prison. [11]

In 2014, four members of the group were sentenced for violently attacking Sevilla FC fans at the Tepanje motorway rest area following a Europa League match, resulting in injuries and approximately €5,000 in property damage. [12] In the same year, UEFA sanctioned Maribor by ordering the closure of part of their stadium after racist behaviour during European matches. [13]

Viole Maribor has been repeatedly punished by the Football Association of Slovenia (NZS) for incidents at domestic matches. In November 2015, Maribor was fined €15,000 after fans displayed a Celtic cross flag and banners with xenophobic messages during a match against Olimpija Ljubljana. [14] In February 2024, during an away league match against Mura, a stun grenade thrown by a member of Viole injured six Mura players and a 14-year-old ball boy, leading to a €25,000 fine, the match being registered 3–0 for Mura, and a four-match stadium closure for Maribor. [15]

References

  1. ↑ Kovačevič, Marko; Mijatovič, Zoran (7 May 2016). "Ekstremna družba, ekstremni navijači". Večer (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 10 September 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  2. ↑ Klipšteter, Tomaž (20 June 2008). "Direktor policijske uprave Maribor Karol Turk: Viole so navadni huligani". Dnevnik (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 18 February 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  3. ↑ R. K. (29 October 2018). "Polne roke dela policije s huligani v Mariboru" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija . Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  4. ↑ G. K. (11 May 2024). "Maribor: V množičnem pretepu Viol in Dragonsov poškodovana dva policista" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija . Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  5. ↑ "VIDEO: Viole v Mariboru brutalno preteple ljubljanske navijače, obveščena tudi policija". Mariborinfo.com (in Slovenian). 3 December 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  6. ↑ Šuljić, Tomica. "Večna bo Slovencev čast". Mladina (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  7. ↑ Elikan, Jaka (19 February 2009). "SSN: 'Kockasti', roke stran od slovenske zemlje". Finance (in Slovenian). Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  8. ↑ Lukič, Luka (28 September 2017). "Andrej Šiško: Nekdanji pripadnik TO-ja, vodja navijačev, podjetnik in politični aktivist, ki "hodi po robu"" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija . Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  9. ↑ A. S. (15 June 2021). "Obsodbo Šiška zaradi ščuvanja potrdilo tudi vrhovno sodišče" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija . Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Začetna leta" (in Slovenian). Viole Maribor. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  11. ↑ Celec, Boštjan (18 November 2010). "Navijača zabodel pod pazduho". Slovenske novice (in Slovenian). Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "Štirim članom Viol že izrekli kazni za brutalni napad v Tepanjah". 24ur.com (in Slovenian). 12 March 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  13. ↑ Associated Press (5 August 2014). "Uefa closes stands at Steaua, Debrecen and Maribor after racist incidents". The Guardian . Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  14. ↑ Cirman, Primož; Vuković, Vesna (11 May 2018). "Generacija identitete: skrajno gibanje, ki je z volitvami v Sloveniji dobilo nov zagon". Siol (in Slovenian). Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  15. ↑ "Maribor football club punished over fan violence". The Slovenia Times. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
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