England Supporters Club

England fans have been praised after visit to Dublin

Posted by Team England at 09:36 on Tuesday 09 June 2015

England fans have been praised for their behaviour during the fixture with Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

The FA proactively contacted all 3,000 travelling supporters last month following complaints from fellow England fans about an increase in anti-social behaviour during recent away games.

Official contact had also been made by FIFA to express concerns about anti-IRA chanting during the Threes Lions’ fixture against Italy in Turin.

And The FA’s call for fans to Follow England Away in the right way was heeded as Aviva Stadium witnessed a respectful and friendly atmosphere during Sunday’s 0-0 draw.

This was pleasing to note and comes on the back of on-going co-operation with relevant authorities, the Football Supporters’ Federation and the England Supporters Club.

“We would like to thank supporters for their exemplary behaviour inside Aviva Stadium yesterday and the respect they showed each other throughout the match," said Tony Conniford, The FA’s Head of Teams and Corporate Security.

“It’s pleasing to see both the fixture against Republic of Ireland at Wembley in 2013 and the recent match pass off incident-free and this is the result of a lot of behind-the-scenes work alongside the relevant authorities and internally at The FA.

“We hope that by continuing to work together we will ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all supporters following England home and away. The reputation of England supporters has made great strides over the years and we all want to see that continue.”

This sentiment was also echoed by the National Police Chiefs' Council Lead for Football Policing, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Roberts, who also highlighted the effectiveness of security measures that had been put in place ahead of the match.



He commented: "I am delighted by the outcomes thus far in terms of security around the Ireland v England match at Aviva Stadium and across Dublin over the weekend.

"There were no incidents of disorder in Dublin on Saturday or Sunday nights, and a very good atmosphere inside the stadium for yesterday’s, which was undoubtedly helped by an early kick-off time which meant access to pubs and off-licences was limited.

"I am convinced that early kick-offs are a useful tactic to deploy for high-risk matches.

"In addition, the security measures back in Britain have been successful, with a 96% compliance rate on passport surrender. I know that enforcement activity has already commenced in some areas for those who failed to comply.

"In all, I think the security operation around this match has been a success and I want to thank all those who helped that happen.

"I would like to thank our colleagues in An Garda Síochána for the welcome they have extended to me and my team and for the superb security operation they mounted.

"However, while many and varied views have been expressed about the match itself, maximum credit must be given to the fans on both sides who contributed to a warm, friendly atmosphere and, however they chose to enjoy themselves while in Dublin, did not compromise anyone’s security in doing so.

"I will continue to work with The FA and other partners in the footballing world to ensure that England’s fans project this reputation from here on out."

With another away trip on the horizon as England continue their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign in Slovenia this Sunday, The FA would like to remind supporters that reports of inappropriate behaviour will always be investigated and individuals can raise such matters in confidence by e-mailing: englandsupportersclub@thefa.com.