by NADEEM BADSHAH
FOOTBALL GROUP’S FAR-RIGHT MESSAGES LEAD TO BAN AT PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES
A GROUP of football fans with far-right links is sparking fear among British Asians who attend matches with their children, campaigners said.
The Premier League has held meetings with police chiefs and warned clubs about the Football Lads Alliance (FLA), which is using supporters and stadiums to push an anti-Muslim agenda since forming in 2017.
Witnesses saw FLA members taking part in threatening behaviour towards Asians and heard anti-Muslim speeches during a march attended by around 3,000 people in Birmingham in March.
Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the English Defence League (EDL), has attended its marches and was part of a far right gathering in Hyde Park, London, this month.
A FLA protest took place last Saturday (19) in Manchester with a counter rally organised by Stand Up to Racism, Unite Against Fascism and local councillors.
Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said he will write to the Home Office expressing his concerns about the group.
He told Eastern Eye: “It is a serious issue. They are intimidating and people are feeling a bit wary of going to football matches.
“I am not sure what police and football stewards controls are, it will be difficult.
“We need to ask clubs to look at this and ask the Home Office about safety at football clubs. I will be putting in a letter to the Home Office.
“Fans are wary. If you have your family and children with you, you will be concerned with their safety. I will be looking to deal with this.”
The FLA’s Twitter account previously retweeted a post stating: “If you’re worried about the Muslim invasion, then the FLA is where it’s at now.”
Its private Facebook account has included racist posts attacking London mayor Sadiq Khan, and Labour MP Diane Abbott.
Some clubs have already banned the FLA’s flags at matches including Arsenal, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace.
Weyman Bennett, co-founder of the Stand Up To Racism group, organised a counter rally to the FLA march on May 6 in London.
Bennett told Eastern Eye: “The FLA claim to be against so-called ‘extreme Islam’ but in practice, they target anyone of black and Asian appearance.
“They have asked Tommy Robinson to be their speaker. This is the EDL mark 2. When our members went to leaflet them about the statements, we were called ‘black b*****ds’.
“The mayor of Newham has said he doesn’t want the group to deter people from supporting their local team. It will make people fearful during matches. It’s not about watching football, it’s about pushing their views.”
Rabnawaz Akbar, a Labour councillor for Rusholme in Manchester, is also concerned about the group’s marches.
He said: “We don’t need the FLA coming into our city peddling racism.
“The FLA’s stated objective is that it’s against ‘extremism’, but it clearly has an ulterior agenda.
“Even the Premier League warned stadiums that they are trying to further bigotry against Muslims. If you look at its recent protest in Birmingham, former EDL leader Tommy Robinson got the largest cheers.
“But there is a Stand Up To Racism counter-demonstration on the day. It’s about mobilisation of unions, all communities, faiths and beliefs in Manchester to send the message, ‘we will not allow you to come’.”
Robinson, who had his Twitter account suspended over his views, insisted the FLA was not racist. He said: “The Football Lads Alliance is football supporters from across the country putting down their rivalries and coming together to oppose the Islamisation of Britain.
“They are demanding a change in the way their country is going.”
