Are the police going to pubs banning English football shirts? Fact Check
Claims that police are going into pubs and clubs across the UK and banning fans from wearing England football shirts are spreading across the Internet.
The rumours were particularly prolific during the build up to the World Cup 2010, and again reappeared ahead of the Euro 2016 competition and again for the 2018 World Cup.
The rumours typically claim that the apparent ban is down to “not upsetting people who don’t come from here”, while other examples claim England shirts “upset Muslims”. An example of the rumour from 2010 can be seen below.
POLICE ARE GOING AROUND PUBS AND CLUBS SAYING THAT WE CANT WEAR OUR ENGLAND TOPS 4 THE FOOTIE & GOTTA TAKE THE FLAGS DOWN AS IT IS UPSETTING THE PEOPLE THAT DONT COME FROM HERE !! NOW IM NOT RACIST , BUT THIS IS TAKING THE PISS! THIS IS OUR COUNTRY AND WE NEED 2 MAKE A STAND IF YOU/THEY DONT LIKE IT GO AWAY! WOULD YOU REMOVE UR TURBAN & BURKHA BECAUSE IT UPSETS ME, IF YOU AGREE POST THIS AS YOUR STATUS
The simple truth is this; it’s a hoax. And an unoriginal one at that.
If the circulating claim that English people cannot do something because it “upsets minorities” or “upsets Muslims” seems a tad familiar, that’s probably because it is one of the most exhausted and frequently employed Internet propaganda hoaxes of all time, and has been employed countless times over the years in an attempt to stir up racial hatred; and it’s always nonsense.
For example, the annual furore over the alleged “banning of Christmas”, the false claim that Tesco were banning Easter from their packaging because it offends Muslims, the false claim Facebook were banning the St. George Cross because it offended Muslims, the false claim Facebook were banning images related to Anzac Day because it offended minorities, the false claim that Facebook were banning the Christian nativity scene because it offended Muslims and the false claim the Royal British Legion were not allowed to sell poppies in certain areas because it offended Muslims. The list really does go on.
The rumour about banning football shirts seems rooted in a 2010 article from … surprise … the British tabloid press, specifically The Sun, who at the time reported that football shirts “could” be banned in the run up to the 2010 World Cup. However The Sun based its entire article on some alleged letters sent to a handful of pubs and bars in Croydon in London suggesting the venues ban football shirts in an effort to curb football related violence.
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In a game of Chinese Whispers, this seems to have led to rumours of a national and compulsory ban on England football related attire up and down the country, which was never the case. And perhaps inevitably at some point, someone included the addendum that this was all to do with not offending Muslims. Which was obviously never the case whatsoever. As we state above, that is just typical far-right rhetoric designed to provoke a vitriolic response towards minorities.
Back in 2010 the rumour was rebuked by many police forces. For example in the West Midlands Inspector Howard Lewis-Jones said of the claims –
It is nonsense. Police officers are football fans too and patriotism should be an important part of enjoying the tournament in a fun and friendly atmosphere as long as people are sensible.
Despite being so thoroughly debunked back in 2010, the rumour has reared its ugly head once more in 2016 and again in 2018. And it is still completely baseless. Football shirts/jerseys/tops have not been banned at all, and football fans are welcome to wear them, subject to specific dress requirements in certain venues.
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