Viking Thunder Clap Explained

The Viking Thunder Clap or Viking Clap is a football chant, consisting of a loud shout and a clap in unison, which is then repeated initially several seconds later and gradually speeding up over time. The chant has been performed by fans of a number of clubs, but came to prominence during the UEFA Euro 2016, when fans of Iceland national team introduced their 'viking clap' or 'volcano clap' with a 'huh' chant.

During the 2018 FIFA World Cup when Iceland were one of the participating teams, the clap once again drew attention.^[1] The Viking Thunder Clap has been adopted by fans of many countries worldwide.

Origin

The chant may have been inspired by the film 300 released in 2006.^[2] Some believed the chant was first used by fans of Scottish club Motherwell F.C., while others suggest it had been performed by fans of the French club Lens more than two decades prior.^[3] Fans of the Greek side PAOK have also chanted "PAOK" on the clap of hands since the mid 1990s.^[4]

Styrmir Gislason, the head of the Association of Icelandic Football Fans stated that the chant was inspired by Polish handball chants.^[5] During the UEFA Euro 2016, Iceland performed unexpectedly well and reached the quarter-finals, and the performance of the chant by their fans drew the attention of other European fans, who then also performed the chant.^[6] It has since been adopted by fans in many countries worldwide.^[7]

Other teams

Fans of the following teams regularly perform versions of the viking clap:

• Esteghlal fans performed the Viking clap immediately after the end of the UEFA Euro 2016; With each clap, they call their team nickname "S.S".^{[8] [9]}
• Persepolis supporters began using the Viking clap immediately since Branko Era.^{[10] [11]}
• Canberra Raiders fans began using the chant in 2016 after the Icelandic version came to prominence.^{[12] [13] [14] [15]}
• Carolina Hurricanes perform a variant called "The Storm Surge."^[16]
• India national football team have started using the viking clap since Blue Pilgrims was formed. It was used by the India national team during both the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC).^{[17] [18]}
• Minnesota Vikings chant 'skol' rather than the 'huh' since 2016.^[19]
• Seattle Sounders FC perform a variant called "Boom, Boom, Clap" dating to before the club was reformed in 2009, chanting 'hey' rather than 'huh'.^[20]
• Toronto fans have performed the "Boom, Boom, Clap" chant since 2008.^[21]
• Vancouver Canucks used the 'Viking clap' at the final career home game for now-retired Swedish twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin on April 5, 2018.^[22]
• Bolton Wanderers fans started doing it in 2022 to show support for their new Icelandic striker Jón Daði Böðvarsson.^[23]
• Kerala Blasters fans began using the Viking clap since 2017 after its popularity reached in India.^{[24] [25] [26] [27]}

References

1. News: Iceland fans practise synchronised thunder clap ahead of Argentina match – video . Reuters. The Guardian . 16 June 2018 .
2. News: Iceland's Chant Is Mighty, but It Comes From Scotland — via Hollywood . 26 June 2018 . The New York Times .
3. Web site: Iceland? Motherwell? Lens? Where did the 'thunderclap' originate?. The Guardian . 13 July 2016 .
4. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: PAOK fans clapping hands . YouTube. 22 May 2012 .
5. Web site: Iceland fans: Poles taught us our sporting chant.
   1. Poland
   . https://web.archive.org/web/20160709163949/https://poland.pl/sport/sport-champions/iceland-fans-poles-taught-us-our-sporting-chant/. 2016-07-09. dead.
6. News: Revealed: the origin of Iceland's 'Viking Thunder-Clap' celebration . Callum . Davis. 8 July 2016 . The Telegraph .
7. News: That Viking feeling: Iceland 'thunderclap' takes Asian Cup by storm. 16 January 2019. France 24.
8. Web site: تشویق ایسلندی تماشاگران استقلال و بازیکنان . 4 May 2017 . Persian.
9. Web site: حاشیه بازی استقلال و آلومینیوم/ تشویق ایسلندی و شعار علیه وزیر سابق/ پرچم باشگاه برزیلی در آزادی (عکس) . 19 May 2022 . Persian.
10. News: همراهی برانکو با هواداران پرسپولیس در تشویق ایسلندی+فیلم . fa . فرتاک ورزشی . 2022-06-15.
11. Web site: 2019-03-30 . تشویق ایسلندی برانکو و بازیکنان پرسپولیس توسط هواداران . 2022-06-15 . ویدیو ورزش سه . fa.
12. Web site: NRL what we learnt: The Viking Clap to return for Raiders finals after record-setting win. Chris. Dutton. 4 September 2016. canberratimes.com.au. 8 April 2018.
13. Web site: NRL talking points: Raiders fans got nuts for 'Viking Clap' and the Josh Hodgson effect. Caden. Helmers. 21 August 2016. canberratimes.com.au. 8 April 2018.
14. Web site: NRL 2016 video: Canberra Raiders' fans do Viking clap before win over Parramatta Eels. 21 August 2016. foxsports.com.au. 8 April 2018.
15. Web site: NRL: Canberra Raiders Luke Bateman and Sia Soliola want the Viking Clap to stay. Caden. Helmers. 24 August 2016. The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 April 2018.
16. Web site: Smith . Michael . Canes Have Fun With New Win Celebration . carolinahurricanes.com . 8 October 2018 . 15 January 2019.
17. Web site: Intercontinental Cup 2018: 5 things India gained from the Intercontinental Cup . Chaudhary. Srijon. 12 June 2018. sportskeeda.com . 11 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190112044301/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/intercontinental-cup-2018-5-things-india-gained-from-the-intercontinental-cup . 12 January 2019 . live .
18. Web site: Watch: Sunil Chhetri leads incredible Viking clap with Indian fans post Thailand AFC Asian Cup win . 7 January 2019. . 11 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190112044609/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1013411/watch-sunil-chhetri-leads-incredible-viking-clap-with-indian-fans-post-thailand-afc-asian-cup-win/ . 12 January 2019 . live .
19. News: Why Do Minnesota Vikings Fans Chant Skol?. Dustin. Nelson. 20 January 2018. Thrillist.
20. Web site: Iceland's Thunderclap fan celebration, explained . Conor . Dowley. 16 June 2018 . SBNation.
21. Web site: Hear that at the beginning of Leg 2? It's the Viking thunder clap . 26 November 2017. Phil. West . MLS Soccer .
22. News: Henrik Sedin wants Canucks fans to keep doing the Viking Clap. Williams. Rob. 2018-04-06. Daily Hive. 2018-10-27. en.
23. https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/20077310.jon-dadi-bodvarsson-missing-bolton-wanderers-icelandic-thunder-clap/ The Bolton News: "Jon Dadi Bodvarsson on what is missing from Bolton Wanderers' Icelandic Thunder Clap"
24. Web site: Pande . Sumedh . ISL 2017: Sandesh Jhingan leads Kerala Blasters players and fans to do the Viking Clap, watch video . 2024-01-02 . www.sportskeeda.com . en-us.
25. Web site: Siddiqui . Nils Adler,Usaid . Reykjavik to Rabat: Morocco's twist to the Viking thunderclap . 2024-01-02 . Al Jazeera . en.
26. News: 2018-01-30 . Kerala Blasters pin hopes on Gudjon Baldvinsson for more Viking claps . The Times of India . 2024-01-02 . 0971-8257.
27. Web site: 2022-07-15 . Viking Clap: Football chant made famous by Iceland, video and how to do it Goal.com English Qatar . 2024-01-02 . www.goal.com . en-QA.

External links

• YouTube - Iceland throws epic homecoming party for Euro 2016 team