Join Now for Free
Home » News » Statement regarding Germany v England fan behaviour
Statement regarding Germany v England fan behaviour

Statement regarding Germany v England fan behaviour

Posted by Team England at 17:16 on Friday 24 March 2017

Following the events of Wednesday night we felt it was important to write to all members to share a statement issued by the FA yesterday.

FA chairman Greg Clarke said: “The behaviour of a section of the England support in Dortmund this week was inappropriate, disrespectful and disappointing. The FA has consistently urged supporters to show respect and not to chant songs that could be regarded as insulting to others. Individuals who engage in such behaviour do not represent the overwhelming majority of England fans nor the values and identity we should aspire to as a football nation. We are speaking with the Football Supporters’ Federation and will be working with England Supporters Travel Club members to come together to address this issue. Everyone involved in the game has a responsibility to ensure that attending a football match is a safe and enjoyable experience for all. ”

Further to this statement, the England Supporters Travel Club membership want to stress that any member identified as being involved in anti-social, xenophobic or disrespectful behaviour will be banned from the membership with immediate effect.

We are working closely with the UK Football Policing Unit to review all of their footage taken throughout the day and from the match to identify those supporters whose behaviour was unacceptable and we have also received many first-hand accounts.

We have been encouraged by the feedback received from many of our members who were also appalled by the behaviour they witnessed at this match. This is particularly upsetting as together we have worked incredibly hard to improve the image of English supporters over recent years however it is clear that there is more work to be done to ensure that we don’t see a repeat of this behaviour at future matches.

If anyone would like to share footage or photos that they have taken or been passed from the match which shows supporters engaging in anti-social or unacceptable behaviour then please send to englandsupportersclub@thefa.com. Please be assured that any correspondence received will be treated in utmost confidence

Have Your Say
Log in or Sign up to join the conversation

  • Well done FA..

    Hopefully there's a photo or 2 of the red haired thug in the square in the city centre..

  • Must admit, there were a lot of embarrassing so called fans there. Proper low life abnoxious idiots.

  • Should be a few hundred Scotland tickets back up for grabs if they do as they say.

  • Sadly, strong action by the FA is justified here. Anyone deliberately throwing beer at others, or damaging the facilities or, incredibly, indulging in Nazi salutes, should be banned.

    There should also be a warning that anyone singing about the IRA, McGuiness, etc is liable to be banned too.

    Most of us follow England to have a few beers, have a good laugh with our hosts, get behind the team and enjoy ourselves. I suggest that if this is not your bag then you ought to stay away for all of our sakes!

  • these are my views alone i was embarassed and stunned to see the loutish behavour of a minority of england fans in dortmund .throwing beer over everyone is childish and very dangerous ..racism of any kind is not acceptable at all and when england fans fighting in stadium it makes me wonder if its really all worth going im ok looking after myself but my partner was upset and scared ..shame on the few that spoil it for the majority .and the major cause is easy accessability to acohol ..have a few by all means but then please enjoy following the team .not making all england fans a laughing stock

  • Germany in Berlin last year was bad. This was worse. Throwing beer into German area, singing about WW2 and German Bombers. Ignorant thick people giving genuine supporters in the club a bad name.

  • I have attended many away games and can honestly say the behaviour of some at the game in Dortmund was the worst I've seen.

    I attended the game in Berlin last year and don't recall anything like the mindless behaviour of a few nights ago.

    I don't mean to sound like a grumpy old git but the average age of our fanbase in Dortmund seemed to have halved all of a sudden in comparison to last year's games which is fine if the new 'young' members are there to support the team and enjoy the football.

    It is extremely worrying that having seen the old idiots removed from the fanbase, this new breed of idiots has suddenly appeared.

    To conclude, the FA acting to prevent any further occurrences of such behaviour can only be commended.

  • I watched the highlights on ITV last night,  and the songs and chanting was evident, so why didn't the TV regulator have it cut?  Different for the live match because it's live,  but surely they could have cut it out for the highlight show?

  • I am pleased to see this statement.

    I was embarrassed at the behavior of some and the singing of many during the game.

    I wish the FA had issued this as a reminder before the game and at the ticket collection point.

    The message sent about anti IRA songs v Ireland away in Dublin 2015 worked. Visible FA Stewards around the town and stadium encouraging "Respect" may make people think twice

  • There as been a growing number of yobs attending away matches recently, most of them don't where the team colours, speak with London accents,sing vile songs,and even intimidate genuine England fans like our family.I have a feeling that all the publicity about the Russian yobs is encouraging these yobs to join the travel club ready for the big show down at the World Cup.If the FA don't get a grip now and get some spotters in with the crowd and weed them out. I won't be going to Russia. Years of work trying to enhance our reputation abroad will have been in vain

  • Is it correct that you could drink beer whilst in your seats ? and also you could smoke anywhere in the ground

  • Heard more of the same (albeit not to the same extent) at the back of Block 109 last night.

  • Been a few weeks now. Has anyone been banned from future aways?