FOOTBALL ‘HATE MOB’ IS ON RISE
Union chief McCluskey claims activists are infiltrating clubs
URGENT action is needed to halt the rise of the far right at British football grounds, says union leader Len McCluskey.
The Unite general secretary speaks out after warnings that members of the Football Lads Alliance are trying to infiltrate fans.
“They spread hatred and division, when we should be united behind our team,” he writes in this paper.
Mr McCluskey will ask his union to back a motion at a conference in Brighton today calling for clubs and fans to stand against the far right.
He fears elements of the Football Lads Alliance and groups including the English Defence League and Britain First, exploit austerity to spur working-class anger.
The Premier League has warned clubs about the FLA after some supporters were seen trying to spread anti-Muslim hate at games. The FLA flag has been banned at some grounds.
The Premier League said: “We have discussed the FLA with the UK Football Policing Unit, and the Home Office. These reports are very concerning.”
The FLA was set up last year as an “anti-extremist” movement but has become increasingly associated with far-right activists.
Up to 10,000 marched in London last June. And a march in Birmingham was addressed by antiIslam activist Anne Marie Waters.
Ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson has joined the FLA on a march and says the group is “football supporters coming together to oppose the Islamisation of Britain”.
Some activists split from the FLA this year and set up the Democratic FLA. A group of its supporters were filmed chanting support for Robinson after he was jailed in May for contempt of court.
Mr McCluskey is keen to nip the growth of hate mobs in the bud.
He said: “We must work with clubs and reach into working-class communities to expose the hate.”
The DLFA said last night: “Many of us are Unite members as we are all working class. Mr McCluskey needs to be mindful of what he says. He may be in for a shock at conference.”
They spread hatred and division when we should be united LEN MCCLUSKEY ON THE RISE OF THE FAR RIGHT