I don’t think it is “just a bit of fun” and I don’t want to “get it.”
To be honest, Scottish supporters are just as bad and it’s because, in both cases, there is a minority of thugs. But they are thugs that get themselves noticed, sadly, because they are so disgusting.
The impact of the thug mentality in football puts the vast majority off supporting the game, full stop.
If MN is anything to go by, It’s interesting that there hasn’t been one thread started on here to the effect of, “Well done England,” “I’m proud of the England team...” etc etc. This is because, any hint of English patriotism has become so closely associated with a thug mentality, the vast majority of normal people steer well clear of it. Instead, the post-match threads were about, “Wasn’t the commentary crap,” or “Why was Prince George in a suit,” or “why were footballers spitting - its disgusting.” Not one, “Well done England” and I think this is very telling actually. You know full-well if Scotland or Wales had won, or even drew, there would have been a whole flurry “I’m proud to be Welsh / Scottish threads.”
Basically, thugs have ruined the game. They are like a sickness in society. The mentality is hideous. People are scared of it and it has given football (or sport in general) such negative connotations that nobody reasonably sane would want to fly England flags or sing the national anthem. The thugs are a disgrace and there is no excuse for booing anyone or anything in any match.