England’s Russian warm-up. Fans disgrace country at Dutch (un)friendly

March 26 – The resurgence of hooliganism by England fans has cast a dark shadow over the current international break as well as the build-up to the World Cup in Russia.
Police chiefs have condemned the “appalling” behaviour before Friday’s friendly against the Netherlands in Amsterdam when more than 100 fans were arrested. The English Football Association said it condemned the “unacceptable scenes”.

“We always urge supporters to respect our hosts and behave in a responsible manner,” it said in a statement.

“As ever, the FA will work in partnership with the UK football policing unit to help identify those involved and we will sanction any England Supporters’ Travel Club member found to be responsible for disorder.”

When England fans clashed with their Russian counterparts at Euro 2016, they were invariably the victims but this time there were no question who the culprits were.

England Football Supporters’ Federation chief executive Kevin Miles said there could be “no defence of the atrocious anti-social behaviour by a minority of English fans” before the 1-0 friendly win.

But he believed the main cause of the trouble was “a significant number, particularly of younger people, who had little interest in the football, and no intention of going to the game”.

“England fans have worked hard over the last decade or so to improve their reputation and disorder has become a rarity,” said Miles. “It is not in the interests of the regular England followers for the anti-social behaviour to creep back in as it will inevitably impact on how we are received and treated by host police forces elsewhere.”

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) deputy chief constable Mark Roberts said there could be no excuses and that any attempts to downplay the violence was “wide of the mark. The behaviour of a large number of England supporters was appalling.”

“The sad fact is that the drunken mob’s behaviour reinforces the negative stereotype of England supporters, and will impact on the treatment all fans can expect when they follow the team abroad.”

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1711718646labto1711718646ofdlr1711718646owedi1711718646sni@w1711718646ahsra1711718646w.wer1711718646dna1711718646