Embarrassed to be an England fan

[Berne Leigh]

Today I have a sick feeling and it is nothing to do with the result. I am proud of the team and their performance throughout this competition. As individuals and as a group they have done us all proud. However the "fans" or at least a vocal minority have once again brought shame upon us.

Running amok in the stadium and trying to force entry is not OK, it is not a bit of fun, it is not a laugh. It was scary for the innocent bystanders and embarrassing for the rest of us.

Booing the Italian national anthem is not OK. It is not a pantomime, it is not part of the game, it is not building an atmosphere. It is rude, disrespectful and completely moronic.

As for the racist abuse words towards members of the team, words fail me. A 19 year old man who has the courage to step up and take a penalty in a match such as that deserves respect not vile abuse from keyboard warriors who have never contributed a single positive thing in their miserable, wretched, pathetic lives.

[Dyched]

“They” aren’t fans.

I’m very uneasy at being labelled a racist because of these incidents. What I find disgusting is all those that jumped on the bandwagon over this past month, enjoying our sport, our achievements to then jump back off it last night and label all over us over the actions of a few. A few too many of course. But I’ve been on grounds where racist are called out and are thrown out.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

It's proven that a fair amount of the racist abuse is coming from abroad from non English people.
Some of our lot are still dishing it out, but it isn't just us.

[Colburn_Claret]

Today I have a sick feeling and it is nothing to do with the result. I am proud of the team and their performance throughout this competition. As individuals and as a group they have done us all proud. However the "fans" or at least a vocal minority have once again brought shame upon us.

Running amok in the stadium and trying to force entry is not OK, it is not a bit of fun, it is not a laugh. It was scary for the innocent bystanders and embarrassing for the rest of us.

Booing the Italian national anthem is not OK. It is not a pantomime, it is not part of the game, it is not building an atmosphere. It is rude, disrespectful and completely moronic.

As for the racist abuse words towards members of the team, words fail me. A 19 year old man who has the courage to step up and take a penalty in a match such as that deserves respect not vile abuse from keyboard warriors who have never contributed a single positive thing in their miserable, wretched, pathetic lives.

Couldn't agree more, it's a social disease, this total lack of respect or appreciation for what people so young have tried to do for their country. I doubt if the perpetrators are even football fans, just small minded nobody's trying to be a somebody, but without the courage to succeed. They need naming and shaming so the rest of us can ridicule them into old age.

[Jakubclaret]

I’m never embarrassed by other people’s actions I’m only embarrassed about my own, you can’t control how other people choose to behave so why be embarrassed by their conduct, you are responsible & accountable for yourself & nobody else not even the association.

[boatshed bill]

I’m never embarrassed by other people’s actions I’m only embarrassed about my own, you can’t control how other people choose to behave so why be embarrassed by their conduct, you are responsible & accountable for yourself & nobody else not even the association.

I agree,
but you can be disgusted, which I am.
The behaviour of certain elements of our society is as bad now as I've ever known it.

[TheFamilyCat]

I’m never embarrassed by other people’s actions I’m only embarrassed about my own, you can’t control how other people choose to behave so why be embarrassed by their conduct, you are responsible & accountable for yourself & nobody else not even the association.

Incredible I know, but I agree with Jakub. One difference though, i will condemn the behaviour which he never does.

[Jakubclaret]

I agree,
but you can be disgusted, which I am.
The behaviour of certain elements of our society is as bad now as I've ever known it.

I agree, nothing you can do about it though it is what it is, as long as you endeavour to be a decent person yourself your conscience is clear, you will always get d1ckheads in society.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Today I have a sick feeling and it is nothing to do with the result. I am proud of the team and their performance throughout this competition. As individuals and as a group they have done us all proud. However the "fans" or at least a vocal minority have once again brought shame upon us.

Running amok in the stadium and trying to force entry is not OK, it is not a bit of fun, it is not a laugh. It was scary for the innocent bystanders and embarrassing for the rest of us.

Booing the Italian national anthem is not OK. It is not a pantomime, it is not part of the game, it is not building an atmosphere. It is rude, disrespectful and completely moronic.

As for the racist abuse words towards members of the team, words fail me. A 19 year old man who has the courage to step up and take a penalty in a match such as that deserves respect not vile abuse from keyboard warriors who have never contributed a single positive thing in their miserable, wretched, pathetic lives.

On the first and third points I agree 100%.

On the second while I don’t agree, it didn’t get booed anyway.

There were a lot of dick heads about though. Many who definitely don’t care less about football. And there was definitely tension in the air outside the ground.

Inside the ground with the exception of the dickheads that tried breaking in and the confrontation that brought the atmosphere was as good as I’ve seen anywhere. Everyone was vocal, partisan but good natured. There were two seperate Italian blokes sat near us and all were treat well and enjoyed it. During the anthems many actually applauded Italy’s. And at the end of the game in and around the ground there was zero bother that I saw. Certainly nothing out of the ordinary.

[cricketfieldclarets]

“They” aren’t fans.

I’m very uneasy at being labelled a racist because of these incidents. What I find disgusting is all those that jumped on the bandwagon over this past month, enjoying our sport, our achievements to then jump back off it last night and label all over us over the actions of a few. A few too many of course. But I’ve been on grounds where racist are called out and are thrown out.

Agree 100%. And you see the proper side of people in defeat, not victory.

[Jakubclaret]

Incredible I know, but I agree with Jakub. One difference though, i will condemn the behaviour which he never does.

I’ll condemn people breaking into a stadium, regarding social media abuse which is WRONG the people themselves are in control & can do something about it themselves to stop it, if something will never change you are responsible yourself for ensuring change nobody else.

[kentonclaret]

Speaking to my neighbour this evening, who was working at Wembley Stadium last night, he told me that the number of fans who forced entry into the stadium without tickets was in the thousands but the authorities obviously want to play down the actual numbers. Initial news reports were that only a small number of fans had TRIED to force entry but were unsuccessful This Statement they were then forced to revisit and revise. He also said that the scenes outside Wembley Stadium after the match had finished were disgusting with broken glass, bottles and debris littering the concourse.

Boris is already talking up the prospect of hosting future tournaments and any adverse publicity could obviously affect our bid.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Speaking to my neighbour this evening, who was working at Wembley Stadium last night, he told me that the number of fans who forced entry into the stadium without ticket was in the thousands but the authorities obviously want to play down the actual numbers. Initial news reports were that only a small number of fans had TRIED to force entry but were unsuccessful This Statement they were then forced to revisit and revise. He also said that the scenes outside Wembley Stadium after the match had finished were disgusting with broken glass, bottles and debris littering the concourse.

Boris is already talking up the prospect of hosting future tournaments and any adverse publicity could obviously affect our bid.

I wouldn’t be surprised.

I saw plenty attempting it. Where I was they didn’t manage to get in. And I saw plenty getting arrested. But there were definitely too many to police so unsurprising that big numbers got in and also they had to be ‘self policed’. Also once inside it was clear there was way more than 60k in. My row was packed.

when I was queuing get in, once we got to the front the gates locked and an announcement was made to way the stadium had gone into lockdown due to an incident. Everyone around us thought they had ‘found’ something. Or something equally sinister. We were locked out for a good half hour and we were early.

I can understand why someone would be so desperate to try it. And I know for a fact people got in on fake tickets. But forgetting the pandemic, I hadn’t even thought about hillsborough and the like until someone mentioned last night. Had that stadium sold 90k tickets and that happened there could have been very big problems.

To get into the stadium I needed to have Covid tests, my ticket and ID. None of these were checked and I was an early bird to go in. (Wanting to avoid queues and any problems as well as soak it all in).

It’s these dickheads that will mean the event is scrutinised and forget World Cup 2030. It will be next season that will just make entry more rigorous and hassle.

I don’t blame the stewards. They’re paid bugger all to do a thankless job in difficult circumstances. But I don’t know what the answer is to manage the situation that happened last night.

To add as above. This was predominantly before the ground and outside. All genuine fans with tickets and all inside were brilliant.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Speaking to my neighbour this evening, who was working at Wembley Stadium last night, he told me that the number of fans who forced entry into the stadium without tickets was in the thousands but the authorities obviously want to play down the actual numbers. Initial news reports were that only a small number of fans had TRIED to force entry but were unsuccessful This Statement they were then forced to revisit and revise. He also said that the scenes outside Wembley Stadium after the match had finished were disgusting with broken glass, bottles and debris littering the concourse.

Boris is already talking up the prospect of hosting future tournaments and any adverse publicity could obviously affect our bid.

There were a few people contacting radio 5 this morning who had taken young children who said they would never attend an England match again. Consistently the same brain dead morons who attach themselves to the national team.
The ease at which ticketless fans appeared to enter the ground for a major final was bizarre.

[tarkys_ears]

Word and European cups bring out the biggest dickheads in the world.

A world cup every 2 years? Make it every ******* 10 as far as I'm concerned!

[claret2018]

Not a chance England will be hosting the WC in 2030, and rightly so. Yesterday was like being back in the 70s

[ecc]

Just seen footage of five "men" kicking a young lad on the ground. Sickening. Doesn't matter which nationality they are, it is sickening.

[yTib]

i'm embarrassed for other people on a daily basis and i completely agree with the op.

[Grumps]

Why would you be embarrassed by the action of people you don't know?

[yTib]

Why would you be embarrassed by the action of people you don't know?

i'm embarrassed that you don't know

[boatshed bill]

i'm embarrassed that you don't know

Careful, there are people on here who will call you a snowflake if you are embarrassed.

[Grumps]

i'm embarrassed that you don't know

Are you embarrassed being a man, everytime one attacks a female
Are you embarrassed as a burnley fan when some unknown moron hires a plane etc etc
I could go on, but iam sure you get the gist

[yTib]

i am genuinely embarrassed for anyone using the term 'snowflake'.

it is only used by those incapable of debate.

[Grumps]

Was it embarrassing behaviour... Yes
Did the offenders embarrass themselves.. Yes
Should I be embarrassed because iam the same nationality and support the same football team.... Never.

[boatshed bill]

Was it embarrassing behaviour... Yes
Did the offenders embarrass themselves.. Yes
Should I be embarrassed because iam the same nationality and support the same football team.... Never.

I doubt the offenders embarrassed themselves TBH.

[yTib]

i suppose being embarrassed on somebody else's behalf is an empathy thing.

embarrassing i know.

[Grumps]

I doubt the offenders embarrassed themselves TBH.

Iam sure they will say they did, should they ever be caught. Always helps to show a bit of remorse, however false it might be

[dermotdermot]

A close friend of mine who has spent a great deal of time living in Italy was contacted today by some Sicilian friends who expressed shock and despair that the Euros had been ruined by the constant booing of every opponent that England had faced. This spoilt it for me as well. Probably more so than having to put up with the vuvuzelas of the South African World Cup. It was embarrassing beyond belief. Any thought of the English sense of fair play is now completely out the window.

[Rileybobs]

Was it embarrassing behaviour... Yes
Did the offenders embarrass themselves.. Yes
Should I be embarrassed because iam the same nationality and support the same football team.... Never.

Can you be proud of people you don’t know? For example, would you be proud to be a Burnley fan if we won the league?

[boatshed bill]

A close friend of mine who has spent a great deal of time living in Italy was contacted today by some Sicilian friends who expressed shock and despair that the Euros had been ruined by the constant booing of every opponent that England had faced. This spoilt it for me as well. Probably more so than having to put up with the vuvuzelas of the South African World Cup. It was embarrassing beyond belief. Any thought of the English sense of fair play is now completely out the window.

This country's moral compass (as they say) has long been thrown away.
It starts at the top and filters down.
I can just about remember a time when MPs had to be inscrutable, look at the shower of shyte now.

[yTib]

A close friend of mine who has spent a great deal of time living in Italy was contacted today by some Sicilian friends who expressed shock and despair that the Euros had been ruined by the constant booing of every opponent that England had faced. This spoilt it for me as well. Probably more so than having to put up with the vuvuzelas of the South African World Cup. It was embarrassing beyond belief. Any thought of the English sense of fair play is now completely out the window.

an embarrassing example of sarcasm?

[Grumps]

A close friend of mine who has spent a great deal of time living in Italy was contacted today by some Sicilian friends who expressed shock and despair that the Euros had been ruined by the constant booing of every opponent that England had faced. This spoilt it for me as well. Probably more so than having to put up with the vuvuzelas of the South African World Cup. It was embarrassing beyond belief. Any thought of the English sense of fair play is now completely out the window.

Have we never booed an opponent before?
Have you not heard it at other tournaments?
It's not a new thing, it's not right, but shouldn't be a surprise.

[Boss Hogg]

Until there is tougher policing and punishments it’s difficult to see how these idiots are stopped. Not a brain cell between them and need naming and shaming. To give someone racist abuse for missing a penalty is just completely moronic. The country doesn’t want them. They are not fans. I bet they ‘support’ club teams that have players of different colour that they’ve cheered before too which makes them even more stupid. Hopefully some of the online trolls and morons fighting outside can be traced and get lifetime club and country bans.

[Grumps]

Can you be proud of people you don’t know? For example, would you be proud to be a Burnley fan if we won the league?

I do know them though.... I can name the players, I've watched the team for 60 years
I haven't a clue who the idiots were last night, I've never seen them, or know anything about them

[Rileybobs]

I do know them though.... I can name the players, I've watched the team for 60 years
I haven't a clue who the idiots were last night, I've never seen them, or know anything about them

You know of them, you don’t know them. So we’ve established that you can be proud of being associated with people that you don’t know, so equally you can be embarrassed through the same association.

[burnley007]

Today I have a sick feeling and it is nothing to do with the result. I am proud of the team and their performance throughout this competition. As individuals and as a group they have done us all proud. However the "fans" or at least a vocal minority have once again brought shame upon us.

Running amok in the stadium and trying to force entry is not OK, it is not a bit of fun, it is not a laugh. It was scary for the innocent bystanders and embarrassing for the rest of us.

Booing the Italian national anthem is not OK. It is not a pantomime, it is not part of the game, it is not building an atmosphere. It is rude, disrespectful and completely moronic.

As for the racist abuse words towards members of the team, words fail me. A 19 year old man who has the courage to step up and take a penalty in a match such as that deserves respect not vile abuse from keyboard warriors who have never contributed a single positive thing in their miserable, wretched, pathetic lives.

Well said.
Burnley is a troubled place atm, a lot of anger and division.
I hope we get a leader one day that can unite this country, it is a mess!

[TsarBomba]

The disorder yesterday was always going to happen unfortunately.

The easing of lockdown, our first major final in god knows how long, a general decline in the standards in society amongst other reasons all contributed.

It was no doubt embarrassing, but I wasn’t even remotely shocked or surprised.

We can kiss goodbye to any future major tournament for the foreseeable, and I just wonder what sort impact yesterday will have on issues such as safe standing?

[Pstotto]

Happy to be a New Zealnd rugby fan though, eh Bernie?

[Grumps]

You know of them, you don’t know them. So we’ve established that you can be proud of being associated with people that you don’t know, so equally you can be embarrassed through the same association.

I never said that, I might be proud for them, but I wouldn't feel proud myself, I wouldnt have done anything.
I was embarrassed for the idiots last night, but didn't feel embarrassed myself for being the same nationality, which was the original point.

[Rileybobs]

I never said that, I might be proud for them, but I wouldn't feel proud myself, I wouldnt have done anything.
I was embarrassed for the idiots last night, but didn't feel embarrassed myself for being the same nationality, which was the original point.

That’s fine, but that doesn’t mean other people have to feel the same way. I’m embarrassed to be an England fan right now, just as I was to be a Burnley fan after the aeroplane incident. Equally I would have felt very proud to be an England fan had we won last night.

[yTib]

the semantic nonsense on this forum never ceases to embarrass me.

[Billy Balfour]

I'm surprised those yobs got anywhere near the stadium, never mind on one of the concourses. Same goes for the hours of drunken yobbery outside the ground.

I presumed the area outside and the concourses would have been rammed with the police, given that this was global event and what happened a few years ago outside the Manchester Arena.

I think we can kiss goodbye to any chance of hosting another international football tournament for the next 20 years.

[TsarBomba]

Until there is tougher policing and punishments it’s difficult to see how these idiots are stopped. Not a brain cell between them and need naming and shaming. To give someone racist abuse for missing a penalty is just completely moronic. The country doesn’t want them. They are not fans. I bet they ‘support’ club teams that have players of different colour that they’ve cheered before too which makes them even more stupid. Hopefully some of the online trolls and morons fighting outside can be traced and get lifetime club and country bans.

It’s not a case of ‘tougher’ policing.

Bottom line is, there’s not enough coppers.

I’ve heard numbers today from colleagues that there were upwards of 250k-500k out on the streets across central and north London.

And the Met had probably 2k max Level 2 public order trained officers to deal.

It’s not rocket science.

The disorder gets so big and widespread that there is simply nothing that can be done.

Lads p*ssed up and coked up by midday.

I’ve had plenty of fights with coke heads on a Friday/Saturday night, and I can assure you, it takes more than one officer to deal.

The Police wade in before the game and make arrests, that takes your finite resources off the streets for later in the day.

Like the riots, there will be a lot of retrospective action taken with CCTV to identify offenders.

This isn’t a really policing or even a criminal justice issue. It’s one for society as a whole.

[Targetman]

Not saying that 2 wrongs make a right but I have been to many, many England away games and I can only recall 2 games where 'God save the Queen' wasn't booed.
Those were in Northern Ireland and Kosovo.

I'm surprised when some people seem surprised because England's opponents national anthem is booed!
It's not a new thing and doesn't happen as much now as it did a few years ago, but it does happen, particularly with certain countries.

I don't recall a big discussion on here when the Scottish fans howled and whistled during our national anthem recently at Wembley? Or possibly there was and I missed it?

[boatshed bill]

It’s not a case of ‘tougher’ policing.


This isn’t a really policing or even a criminal justice issue. It’s one for society as a whole.

Totally agree with you on this.
The justice system, and pathetic short sentencing really doesn't help the police. There is precious little deterrent.
But the bottom line is that people in a so-called civilised society shouldn't want to behave like hooligans.

[Grumps]

That’s fine, but that doesn’t mean other people have to feel the same way. I’m embarrassed to be an England fan right now, just as I was to be a Burnley fan after the aeroplane incident. Equally I would have felt very proud to be an England fan had we won last night.

Out of interest, why did you personally feel embarrassed for a plane stunt you had absolutely nothing to do with?

[NottsClaret]

That 8pm kick off was always going to be a problem. Just like a big open air festival for ‘lad’ culture without any of the drug searches. Add to that the common knowledge that ‘jibbing’ in was so easy for Germany and Denmark then it became a magnet for a certain type.

Maybe we’ve become complacent recently. Wembley is all set up for the corporate, family vibe and wasn’t prepared at all for Sunday. Big changes will be needed but it’s not easy with Wembley’s location.

[TsarBomba]

That 8pm kick off was always going to be a problem. Just like a big open air festival for ‘lad’ culture without any of the drug searches. Add to that the common knowledge that ‘jibbing’ in was so easy for Germany and Denmark then it became a magnet for a certain type.

Maybe we’ve become complacent recently. Wembley is all set up for the corporate, family vibe and wasn’t prepared at all for Sunday. Big changes will be needed but it’s not easy with Wembley’s location.

Absolutely.

The ball was dropped big time on this.

We were changing kick off times 20 years ago for Burnley v Preston games, to limit disorder.

And we thought we could get away with an 8pm ko for a Euros Final? After the warnings we had in the games leading up to it?

Madness.

[Rileybobs]

Out of interest, why did you personally feel embarrassed for a plane stunt you had absolutely nothing to do with?

Because I was associated with the people who pulled the stunt by virtue of being a fellow supporter of the same club. The following day during a work team meeting a colleague jokingly opened the meeting by asking if I had been flying a plane the previous night. Equally there have been many times when I’ve gone into work the day after a fantastic result and felt enormous pride in supporting Burnley, despite having nothing to do with that result.

I don’t expect everybody to feel the same way as me, but I wouldn’t just dismiss other people for feeling a sense of shame to be associated with other people’s actions. I’m sure all parents feel pride and embarrassment at their children’s actions despite not necessarily having anything to do with those actions, for example.

[Targetman]

Just to echo Tsar Bomba's comments above, we were having a drink in a seated outdoor area of the Premier Inn next to Wembley Park tube station before the game.

The police were having their work cut out in trying to keep the main road open to traffic outside the station at the bottom end of Wembley Way.
They were hoplessly outnumbered by drunken people, I wont call them fans because they weren't, and it was very difficult for the police to do their job.

The vast majority of these people didn't have tickets and eventually started thinning out as they made their way from the area to watch the game on TV elsewhere.

From mid to late afternoon it was very dangerous, if you valued your health, walking along Wembley Way because of the mass of people and also because numerous morons were throwing bottles and full cans, police bollards, and anything else they could get their hands on up in the air randomly.

The police were doing their utmost to sort things but faced an uphill battle all afternoon.