News

England Supporters Bull-Rushed By Riot Police Inside Nations League Fan Zone

After finishing in fourth place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and following that up with victories over Spain and Croatia in the inaugural UEFA Nations League, support for England is at a fever pitch. 

There’s a profound sense of optimism surrounding Gareth Southgate’s side, and the nation is relishing an exciting crop of players that features Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marcus Rashford. 

So it’s no surprise that the footballing-mad country is reportedly descending on Portugal for the Nations League Finals, beginning with Thursday’s match against the Netherlands in Guimarães. According to reports, although England was allocated just 10,000 tickets, around 20,000 Three Lions fans are expected in Portugal.

Many will be in attendance Thursday at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, but those without tickets have been told to stay in Porto, which is about 34 miles southwest of Guimarães. 

England supporters have a history of clashing with local police while on their travels. At Euro 2016, both Marseille and Lille were the sites of brawls and riots, although Russian hooligans and heavy-handed police tactics were also at fault.

Of the 20,000 in Portugal, the vast majority will be there as pleasant tourists, drinking Super Bock and Sagres and turning that strange sort of splotchy red that happens when an Englishman confronts the sun. 

But there will be a few idiots, and that’s who the FA targeted with its recent “Don’t Be That Idiot” campaign. I like it, particularly how despondently misanthropic the video’s main character becomes by the end of the sequence. 

Well, the campaign hasn’t exactly worked. 

Supporters have also been singing “Ten German Bombers,” which is never a good look, especially so on the 75th anniversary of D-Day. 

And there are instances of Portuguese police officers taking things to the extreme. Here’s one officer using pepper spray rather liberally.

On the footballing side of things, Thursday’s match should be excellent, and the winner will play Portugal at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto after Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat trick led his nation past Switzerland in the other semi, 3-1. 

Videos you might like