THUGS PUT LIONS’ TRUE FANS AT RISK
Rampage sparks World Cup fear
ENGLAND hooligans who caused mayhem in Amsterdam could have put “genuine supporters” at risk during the World Cup.
More than 100 Three Lions fans were arrested in the Dutch city after trouble around the match with the Netherlands on Friday.
Mark Roberts, the national lead for football policing and South Yorkshire’s deputy chief constable, called it the “worst night of violence” involving England for several years, and part of a “worrying trend”.
“Ultra” thugs are said to be planning match day “war” with England fans at this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
Mr Roberts said: “When people behave as they did at the weekend, they not only put themselves at a greater risk but also genuine supporters, because it becomes harder for us to try and influence policing styles. When we’re trying to persuade them the majority of fans don’t cause problems, scenes like that make people’s lives harder.”
He added: “I am concerned that all the efforts we’ve made to try and help the Russian authorities understand how best to deal with England supporters have gone to waste.”
Tensions
About 24,000 Three Lions fans are planning to follow Gareth Southgate’s men to the World Cup.
Some of those in Amsterdam were held for throwing beer bottles at officers.
Russian authorities will now be on red alert at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries following the Salisbury spy poisoning scandal.
And Mr Roberts warned English yobs could be thrown in tough Russian jails if they do not behave.
He said: “Countries look at how our supporters behave and think, ‘Why should we tolerate it?’”
And he added: “If the host country finds that behaviour offensive, they will deal with it as they would their own people.
“I don’t think anyone would want to be serving time in a Russian prison labelled as an England football hooligan.”