Police investigate after outrage at fans’ Nazi salutes
in Moscow
England football fans have caused outrage by singing an anti-semitic song and making Nazi salutes in a Russian pub before England’s World Cup match in Volgograd, where more than a million Soviet soldiers died to stop the German blitzkrieg.
In a video that was circulating on social media yesterday, supporters are singing a racially offensive song about Tottenham Hotspur in the Galereya Pub in Volgograd.
An employee at the pub told The Daily Telegraph that the incident had occurred on Monday before England beat Tunisia 2-1.
Three men are seen throwing Nazi salutes during the anti-semitic song, which makes reference to Adolf Hitler and Auschwitz, and has been associated with some Chelsea supporters in the past.
The incident threatens to cause tensions between countries during a World Cup that has otherwise been overwhelmingly friendly.
British police, who previously warned fans not to sing songs or wave flags at “sensitive” sites in Volgograd, said they were “making swift inquiries to identify those involved and will seek to take all appropriate action against them”.
An FA spokesman said: “We strongly condemn the actions of the people in this video. We are working with the relevant authorities, including the UK Police investigations team, who are making inquiries to identify the individuals involved and take appropriate action.
“The disgraceful conduct of the individuals in this video does not represent the values of the majority of English football fans supporting the team in Russia.”
Actions meant to incite hatred based on race or religion can be punished with up to five years in prison, according to the Russian criminal code.