Search icon

News

23rd Mar 2018

WATCH: Why England fans can’t have nice things

A video shows travelling supporters in Amsterdam throwing beer on people and a bike into the canals

Oli Dugmore

A video shows travelling supporters in Amsterdam throwing beer on people and a bike into the canals

As the international break mumbles on Gareth Southgate’s England team are in the Netherlands for a friendly, ahead of the summer’s World Cup in Russia.

And my oh my are England’s fans going to have a good fun time there.

One YouTube search for ‘Russian ultras’ indicates that – pitched battles with four ounce gloves and gum shields. But before our away lot get to the forest wars with which Russian football is now largely synonymous, they’ll encounter locals.

If they behave like this, a ride to the hospitalski is only a 112 call away:

It’s clear England fans can’t have nice things, that’s well established, but why can’t they be normal and enjoy Amsterdam like the rest of us? In a way that doesn’t involved throwing bikes into the canals and pouring beer on unassuming tourists.

England fans and their flags have lined the canal banks this week. Dutch authorities confirmed that a number of fans were arrested on Thursday evening for throwing beer bottles at police officers. There will be an increased police presence at Friday’s game against the Netherlands, who have not qualified for the World Cup.