England fans going to the Euros are a target for hooligans from other nations, known to include Serb Ivan Bogdanov (right), who follows Red Star Belgrade (Picture: Getty)
England fans represent a ‘challenge’ for hooligans from other nations out to claim a scalp at Euro 2024, a football policing expert has said.
Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions play Serbia in their opener today, with their opponent’s followers including Red Star Belgrade’s notorious ultras.
A policing expert assessing the threat drew on the spectre of Marseille at Euro 2016, when groups of Russian hooligans laid into England fans.
Dr Mike Hope said that while England had largely shed its hooligan image the fans still present a ‘trophy’ for violent groups from other nations.
He also told Metro.co.uk that an Anglo-German understanding of crowd behaviour within a multi-national police operation is key to facilitating a safe and enjoyable experience for England and Scotland supporters.
German police take part in a drill at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart (Picture: EPA)
Hope said: ‘The German authorities will be supported by a good contingent of British police officers in their focus on the type of issues which affect any mega event such as terrorism, crowd management and public safety, as well as the potential disorder between fans which is a significant added dimension at some football games.
‘England fans have a historic reputation for football violence but in recent years it’s not been as relevant, with the violence in central Europe being far more significant on a weekly basis.
‘From an English perspective there are also more than 1,600 banning orders in place, meaning the individuals will have to surrender their passports and will not be able to travel to Germany.
‘The problem is that, as in Marseille at the 2016 Euros when groups of Three Lions supporters were attacked by Russians, they are seen as a “trophy” by hooligans following other nations.
‘There may be groups following Serbia or other nations who see England fans as a challenge and try to provoke that type of disorder.’
Red Star Belgrade fans during a UEFA Europa League match (Picture: PA)
Russian hooligans run at England fans in Marseille at Euro 2016 (Picture: Getty)
Hope, the lead for the ENABLE football policing research project at Keele University, identified the authorities’ approach to the groups following the 24 competing teams as crucial to preventing violence and disorder.
Serbia’s ultras, known for their far right nationalism and support of Vladimir Putin, are likely to be high on the watch list in an international police monitoring centre operating 24-7 in the city of Nuess near Düsseldorf.
In December, masked Red Star Belgrade followers attacked Manchester City fans with sticks before the two teams played a Champions League game in the country’s capital. At national level, incidents include players and fans being involved in a brawl during a Euro 2016 qualifier against Albania, causing riot police to be called in and the match to be abandoned.
Ivan Bogdanov, a notorious Serbian ultra and convicted football hooligan, was among those who …read more
Source:: Metro
