They have been warned
The obsession among some England football fans with World War II is as well-known as it is utterly pathetic, something which would not have been far from the minds of many when the draw for Euro 2020’s round of 16 was made.
Gareth Southgate’s England side will host Germany at Wembley on Tuesday evening with a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament at stake, but the FA have now warned England supporters that they could face bans if they have been found to have sung the anti-German chant during the match.
In a statement, made by the FA to the Telegraph, they said: “We always encourage our fans to positively get behind the team, and this includes supporting England in the right way, before, during and after the match. This message will be shared with them once again before Tuesday’s fixture, as well as thanking them for their support.
“We will also strongly condemn any behaviour at Wembley Stadium that is discriminatory or disrespectful, and we will take action where appropriate as we try to ensure all England matches are a safe and enjoyable experience.”
The song, sung to the tune of ‘She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain’, has been a common sound at England fixtures for years, and mocks German casualties in World War II.
The FA did successfully ban some England supporters who were found to have sung the song during a visit to Dortmund in 2017, after which they were condemned by Southgate and a veterans’ group.
