Does East Bengal's 'Biggest' Tifo during Kolkata Derby Make Top 5 Tifos in Indian football?
Indian football has witnessed so many things in recent times. Apart from the antics on the green grass, there was always something more interesting on the galleries too.
Earlier, the supporters made their presence felt with their vocal support and hurling abuses at the rival players. They often engaged in fighting with rival fans.
But the modern age supporters, who closely follow foreign football, brought in a completely new culture in Indian football. They made songs and slogans for their players, which instantly became popular.
Along with that came the concept of tifo. Tifos are generally a choreography displayed by fans in the stands of an arena or stadium in connection with the sporting event. Indian tifos generally displayed messages to their team.
European football clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray, Hapole Beer Sheeva are famous for making tifos during matchdays.
But in recent times, fans started experimenting with tifos. Instead of words, they started painting new designs and display messages.
East Bengal unfurled a huge banner during the Kolkata Derby against Mohun Bagan. They claimed it to be the biggest in Indian football at 7,200 square feet.
In this article, we will bring the largest tifos created by the fan clubs:
Also See : Durand Cup, Durand Cup Schedule, Calcutta Football League
#5 Super Machans’ tifo
Chennaiyin FC have one of the best fan followings in India. The two-time champions have a fan club named Super Machans, which makes their presence felt in every match with their huge roar and chants.
Chennaiyin, who annexed the title last year, was expected to replicate the same magic on the field this time. However, despite having the same coach and almost the same team members, their fortunes went down in every match.
As things stand, they have no chance to qualify for the knock-out this time. All they are playing for is to salvage their pride. The supporters, though, turn up in numbers to the stadium despite the team having no hope of making the ISL playoffs.
The excitement among the fans at the start of the season was at an extreme level. Like every other club, they tried to do something that catches the attention of the nation. They did so with a large depiction of a player without a face.
The banner has a figure with the right hand placed on his heart like he's singing the national anthem. This denotes the Chennaiyin FC fans, the 12th man. The fans feel they are at the heart of the club and promise that they will always back the club no matter what.
The banner occupies an area of 1800 sq ft.
The tifo was unfurled before the match against NorthEast United this season, which Chennaiyin eventually lost 3-4.