Deliberately provocative or simply pig ignorant?

[TrickyD]

Who could think it would be a good idea to dress as Crusaders in an Islamic country?
Judging by the types attending the matches I assume pig ignorant.

They are dressing in the manner St. George is often depicted in the legend of his slaying a dragon.

Are they not permitted to celebrate their patron saint?

No. Times and places. This is neither. It is bugger all to do with patron saints and actually just a big "fuck you". Terribly bad manners.

Are they not permitted to celebrate their patron saint?

Sure. On his saint's day. As a side issue, what sort of idiot pays £ 3,000 for a hand made costume they must know is going to be seen as insanely provocative in an ME country?

They will wear it to loads of away games and have zero idea about the implications, I would imagine

England fans have dressed like this for years, it's clearly meant to be a depiction of St. George, who, even if he did exist, didn't take part in the crusades.

You are all aware where the cross comes from on the England flag?

They are not dressing as crusaders FFS.

Deliberately provocative or pig ignorant is a good way if describing the OP.

If they are not dressing as crusaders then they are giving a damned good impression that dressing up as crusaders is exactly what they're doing, given that they're wearing the clothes and the type of weapons and helmets commonly and widely associated with the crusaders. Ad you're aware of the derivation of crusader from 'cross' and what the crusades actually were, aren't you?

Knock it off with 'they're just fans dressing up like fans do.' It's on a par for crassness with walking around Manchester dressed in a suicide vest.

And just for good measure, St George (if he existed at all) was probably Turkish, never had anything to do with England, and is also the patron saint of Bulgaria and Georgia, among other places. He is also the patron saint of people with skin diseases and syphilis.

Oh, and in answer to your question, OP - probably both.

Although, if anyone deserves a massive “fuck you” it’s Qatar

Although, if anyone deserves a massive “fuck you” it’s Qatar

Agreed. Still have no time for fuckwits who think being football fans makes them special.

Ha they’d hate me, I have a large tattoo of a crusader knight. But they’d hate me anyway, since I’m a woman so hey 🤷🏻‍♀️

You'll just get a load of people making excuses for them.

Obviously dont care about the implications of dressing like that in the middle east.

Knock it off? Who are you, thread police?

The number of England fans who have gone dressed as crusaders is zero, it's a depiction of St. George.

It's nothing like wandering around Manchester in a suicide vest, this is just deperate whataboutery.

Strange the people of Qatar don't seem to have a problem with it.

They won't be carrying weapons either, Jesus wept.

I think it’s quite doubtful that many of them have made the connection. Money talks and FIFA have a lot to answer for.

You'll just get a load of people making excuses for them

As we can see. It's the national religion, everyone's got to bow down to it.

@MrsDanversGlidesAgain It’s nothing like walking around Manchester in a suicide vest. Get a grip.

I’ve travelled extensively around the world with football for work. Fancy dress is often a thing a matches. As it that particular outfit.

I don’t think fancy dress at this tournament is advisable full stop. But it’s certainly not walking around in a suicide vest get up. That’s a really offensive comment.

They are earning good money working in Qatar. Should have deported them, teach them some manners , hurt the pocket

They aren’t wearing crusader costumes. It’s a St George costume. Others were wearing the costume from Monty Python’s Holy Grail.

Of course, the left don’t really care what they were wearing. It’s just routine fake outrage. Truth is, the left don’t hate them for wearing “Crusader costumes”. They hate them for being English.

The number of England fans who have gone dressed as crusaders is zero, it's a depiction of St. George

Funnily enough the Quatari police haven't taken that view, have they? fans were also told not to dress up as St George precisely because it would be seen as provocative, whatever the intent.

Indeed. It is still terribly bad manners though. Plus totally stupid and possibly dangerous.

Of course, the left don’t really care what they were wearing

You're going to need to define 'the left.'

I'm just amazed they think they can go there of all places and act like they normally do.

It's going to end badly.

Well said.

The left - morons.

Looks like the site intellectuals have waded into the debate.