England fans urged not to fly ‘imperialistic’ St George flag
Police chief fears for supporters heading to Russia for World Cup following violence at Euro 2016

England football fans attending the 2018 World Cup in Russia are being warned not to display the St George’s Cross as it risks being seen as “imperialistic” and “antagonistic”.
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the head of football policing, said the flags were the “trophies of choice for hooligans from rival countries”, the Daily Mail reports.
England supporters in France for Euro 2016 clashed with Russian fans, who posted pictures of dozens of “captured” St George flags.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Roberts noted that tensions between Russia and the UK are now even higher following allegations that Russia was behind the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury earlier this year.
Thousands of England supporters waving flags traditionally gather in host city centres ahead of international tournaments, says The Times. England’s first game, against Tunisia on 18 June, will take place in Volgograd - formerly known as Stalingrad - the site of the bloodiest battle of the Second World War and regarded by Russians as “a symbol of the Great Patriotic War”, the newspaper adds.
Russian police will reportedly issue a list of sensitive sites and memorials in the city that foreign fans should avoid.
“We would not expect people to come across to this country, get drunk and drape flags on the Cenotaph, so we need to extend the same courtesy when we go abroad and treat places with due reverence,” Roberts said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Can the world stop Israel from starving Gaza?
Today's Big Question Total blockade on food and aid enters its third month, and Israel is accused of 'weaponising starvation'
-
The timely revival of watchmaking
Under The Radar Artisan horology is enjoying a surprising resurgence
-
Alcatraz: America's most infamous prison
The Explainer Donald Trump wants to re-open notorious 'escape-proof' jail for 'most ruthless and violent prisoners' in the US
-
China's football crisis: what's happened to Xi's XI?
In The Spotlight String of defeats and finishing bottom of World Cup qualifying group comes a decade after Xi Jinping launched a football crusade
-
Saudi Arabia World Cup: have lessons been learned from Qatar?
Today's Big Question Human rights groups fear a repeat of issues at the 2022 tournament
-
FIFA is embroiled in back-to-back controversies around the World Cup
Under The Radar The controversial selection of the 2030 hosts puts Saudia Arabia in a prime position for 2034
-
Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup: glitz, glamour and 'grimly inevitable'
Talking Point Critics claim country is guilty of sportswashing as it stands unopposed to host tournament
-
Spain beats England 1-0 to win its first Women's World Cup
Speed Read
-
US knocked out of Women's World Cup in stunning exit
Speed Read
-
Who will win the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup?
The Explainer The global tournament has kicked off in New Zealand
-
Fifa World Cup 2026 expansion: for the global game or for Fifa’s greed?
Talking Point The men’s tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the USA will have a record 104 matches