England fans at Euro 2024 have been issued another warning ahead of the tournament in Germany, this time by a Police Chief. Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs' Council's Lead for Football Policing has told fans to use ‘common sense' at the tournament and to respect the laws in place in Germany.
England fans have built up a reputation across Europe over the years of being a group who aren't always the most culturally aware or sensitive, especially after a few hours of drinking. However, German public order laws could land England fans in hot water should they behave inappropriately during the tournament.
The UK government are sending over their largest-ever deployment of policemen and women to work with German officers during the tournament due to the large numbers of England fans expected to make the trip over.
England fans at Euro 2024 told to be ‘good guests'
Ahead of the tournament, they have warned fans that local police will issue immediate fines to anyone behaving illegally and that they will escort them to the nearest bank to ensure payment is made. In a police briefing with German officers, Mark Roberts said:
“Let's be realistic, some of this stuff you really don't need telling that's it's going to be a criminal offence in any normal Western democracy, so there is an element of common sense here.”
“You don't really have to get your almanac out to check the finer points of German legislation, just go and be a good guest and have a good time.”
Will England fans behave themselves at Euro 2024?
There is no way of knowing whether England fans will behave themselves at Euro 2024 and as ever, performances on the pitch will likely determine the behaviour of the majority of fans. They have already been given plenty of warnings and now it's time to sit back and see whether any of it has been taken on board.
However, there are concerns (and rightly so) that England fans won't be able to help themselves in relation to singing about the World Wars and the Nazis given the tournament is being held in Germany.
When England played Germany in 2017, the Football Association (FA) had to issue a statement condemning England fans who were pictured making Nazi salutes in the build-up to the match and at the stadium. If the same thing happens again this summer, then the fans in question can expect more than just a telling off from the FA.
Oliver Strudthodd, a Germany police director, has told England fans that what was is acceptable in Britain might not be acceptable in Germany and that the police have been given the scope to act with ‘zero tolerance.' He added:
“When you come to a country you have to respect the cultural rules and the history of the country.”