The behaviour of some England fans at Euro 2024 is once again under scrutiny after they were filmed singing a controversial chant referencing German casualties in World War Two. Despite appeals from both British and German police to refrain from doing so, the ’10 German bombers’ chant was witnessed being sung in the German city of Gelsenkirchen during England’s opening match against Serbia. The chant was also directed at a group of passing Germany supporters in Frankfurt. While the majority of supporters find the chant embarrassing and inappropriate, there are still some who defend it as part of England’s history and claim it is not intended to be anti-German.
The question arises as to whether fans could face prosecution or fines for singing such chants. British authorities have suggested that perpetrators could be fined in Germany if they refuse to stop singing when asked. However, German police have stated that singing the song is not a criminal offence in the country, although it may be considered impolite and result in a fine or arrest depending on the circumstances. The UK Football Policing Unit has warned fans that acting in a way to cause offence could result in heavy fines and custodial sentences.
The Football Association (FA) has previously appealed to fans to stop singing the chant and threatened them with bans if they persisted. Manager Gareth Southgate has called the behaviour “completely unacceptable.” There were even calls for the FA to be punished by Uefa for potentially discriminatory behaviour if they failed to stamp out the chant. The FA has not directly addressed the recent controversy, instead emphasizing that it expects fans to support the team “in the right way.” While the FA has the ability to ban members of its official supporters club who are caught singing the chant, it is more difficult to take action against non-members.
Recent crackdowns on offensive behaviour in English football may serve as a deterrent for those tempted to sing such chants. The Crown Prosecution Service has updated its guidance on football-related offences, making it clear that tragedy-related abuse can be prosecuted as a public order offence. Last year, a Spurs fan was given a football banning order and fines for making gestures mocking the Hillsborough tragedy, and a Manchester United supporter received a four-year ban for wearing an offensive shirt about the same tragedy. These instances, along with the football authorities’ efforts to improve fans’ behaviour, may discourage fans from engaging in offensive chants.
Ultimately, the pressure to stop singing chants about the war may need to come from the England fans themselves who do not want to be associated with such behaviour. As the Euros progresses, it is hoped that the risk of being filmed singing offensive chants and the potential embarrassment that may follow will act as a deterrent to those tempted to engage in such behaviour.