There should be no England fans at final IMO

[LaserPointer]

I cannot believe there is not more disgust at the actions of one (or more) English fan(s).

Aside from trying to cheat way to an England victory by distracting the goalkeeper during a penalty, lasers are phenomenally dangerous to eyes. The goalkeeper could have retinal damage.

I think a “lesser” nation would have been kicked out, but England won’t. But in my view the fans should be banned - there has to be consequences for criminal actions. Otherwise it will happen again.

Suspect I’ll be in the minority but it’s frankly embarrassing we have fans who do this.

From what I saw the green laser light randomly moved around the chest of the goalkeeper, it barely went near his eyes, which is very fortunate. With all the cameras around the stadium I'm sure it's possible to find footage of the person who shone the laser - even if they can't name them, they could enlarge an image and show it all over TV and social media, then hopefully someone will recognise them and name them.

I'm curious and concerned about whether a laser pen could really blind someone, if it shone into their eyes for just a couple of seconds? What length of exposure does that sort of damage? It's worrying that these things are easy to get hold of and could cause such harm to people.

I disagree with banning fans just because one person behaved so badly, but I really hope they catch that person and punish them.

I was particularly appalled at the way various English players were violently kicking the ball. I'm sure we're all aware that footballs used to be made from pigs' bladders, so I can only assume it was a metaphorical endorsement of animal abuse. Disgusting.

If another team had players who kicked the ball, you can guarantee they'd all be put to death.

Your anti working-class prejudice is showing OP, I seeeee yoooooouuuuuuu!

@forinborin

I was mildly supporting England after my home team was knocked out, but am quite disappointed now by the fans' behaviour. I am neutral as to the finals, just hope it will be an interesting game to watch. My parents who don't even speak English and don't live here were genuinely supporting England, but took a pause after the German girl incident and repeated booing of national anthems. This opinion was reinforced after the laser scandal came to light. You're just not painting a very attractive picture to the world in aggregate, guys. Yes, no fan crowd is perfect, and there are similar incidents here and there - but it does now look like a systemic issue within the English fan base, unfortunately.

That last paragraph is one of the most contradicting and non-sensical things ever written.

So there's similar incidents but it's a systemic English issue based on one incident of which has happened multiple times with different countries and in different sports?

I could eat a tin of alphabet spaghetti and shit a more coherent post than that.

@Lemonmelonsun

Disgusting what the laser person did and I hope they can find him /her and deal with them appropriately.

But... Aksing all the innocents to be banned! Really!

Her.

Hahaha. Sure.

Maybe I have just missed them but amongst the many threads slagging England off for being the only fans ever to have booed national anthems, and no wonder everyone hates england, and we have the worst fans in the world, I haven’t seen any threads about the overt homophobia from the crowds in Hungary, for which they were reported to UEFA.

Chants of “faggot” are fine, as long as you aren’t England don’t boo a song apparently

@MrsGRamsay

FFS I effing follow football i.e was a season ticket holder and went all over the world following my team until disabled and everyone hates England because of the fair weather fans than come out at a whiff of a result. It was disgusting behaviour - yup, try and blind a Goalie - in the rules innit???

🧂

@RuggerHug

Personally I think they should be warned if they start booing during the anthem it's stopped immediately, it's announced again that'll it'll go ahead if the crowd can show the same respect for Italys anthem that the English one is shown and if there's boos again it's called off and played behind closed doors the next day.

Absolute fucking lol

I don't think many people would say booing another teams national anthem is good. Or that the lazer was good.

But to boot the team out or ban fans for other people's behaviour, is piss poor.

Shame people don't really care about teams the exhibit racism. Just booing a national anthem, is a big deal.

And do people who keep shouting 'they cheated' also believe Denmark cheated, as their first goal probably should have been disallowed.

So if the goal England scored off the penalty AND the first Denmark goal got disallowed. England still would have won.

Have they apprehended the perpetrator yet? Until they catch the laser-wielding yob, then we don't even know whether they were an England fan or not. Could have been a supporter of another national side (can't imagine who that could be) stirring up trouble on purpose to make the England fans look bad.

Raheem Stirling suffered racial abuse during the Ukraine game, if Ukraine had have won should all of the fans be banned?

The way some (too many) England fans have behaved during is tournament is disgusting. The booing of other country’s national anthems, the booing of players taking the knee, the laser pointing at the danish goalie… this is what the rest of Europe and beyond see too. It’s embarrassing and shameful. I might have missed it (have googled just now) but it would be nice if Prince William, as president of the FA, avid footy fan who’s gone to lots of euro games and therefore heard the booing in person, would say something about it. I don’t need him to tell me that the behaviour is vile but I do think he should publicly condemn it. Assuming he disagrees with it of course.

All the players and Gareth Southgate are fantastic, they deserve to be where they are.

I don't see how you can be a season ticket holder and be flustered by booing. Talk about nanny state, warn supporters and then punish If behaviour isn't changed regardless if it isnone or two fans.

@JackieWeaverHandforthCouncil

These anti England posts are starting to piss me off (which I guess is the point) and I’m nowhere near nationalist flag shagger status.

Me too.

@MrsGRamsay

FFS I effing follow football i.e was a season ticket holder and went all over the world following my team until disabled and everyone hates England because of the fair weather fans than come out at a whiff of a result. It was disgusting behaviour - yup, try and blind a Goalie - in the rules innit???

Hang on, I thought people hated us because we're hooligans.

This is hard to keep up with...

I'm curious and concerned about whether a laser pen could really blind someone, if it shone into their eyes for just a couple of seconds? What length of exposure does that sort of damage? It's worrying that these things are easy to get hold of and could cause such harm to people.
Laser pen from a toy shop, unlikely - you'll need to stare at it directly for seconds. A laser of the type used by construction workers (which this likely to have been, as it is green) - yes, can cause damage even with short exposure.

I agree. Football fans can get out of hand and it's about time they were all shown exactly how serious it's gonna be taken. It's not about punishing the innocents for a few bad apples, it's about showing grown adults to stop acting like spoilt children and being respectful and safe at games.

It is disgusting. I am disgusted by the ‘fan’ who did this and by the ones who having been booing the opponents’ national anthem and booing players taking the knee.

But it is a minority of fans. It’s not fair to punish everyone. I just hope the idiots don’t rush the pitch if England win.

I'm English and love football but the game is too yobbish now, the abuse the german youngster got - in the pub i was in, half the pub errupted in laughter at her tears.
Pictures of her be cradled by Saville on SM.

Yes most countries boo opposing fans anthems, does that make it right?
Imagine if at Wimbledon, fans booed the winning players anthem? or at the Olympics?

So ban fans from the final, make an example and stop matches where racial abuse takes place, the game needs cleaning up.

I think the incident was disgraceful and when the perpetrator is found he should be banned for life from matches.

However, fancy having to hide behind a name change to spout bollocks.

Honestly I am shocked that they haven’t removed the last goal and put the score to 1-1 or said to have a re-match.
The laser was a strong laser that must have been off putting and I feel like it’s bittersweet because would we actually have won the game if that didn’t happen!? I feel like this will go down in history as the time England cheated to win and it’s such a shame as they have played amazingly!

I see UEFA have bottled kicking them out the tournament after last night.

@Hadjab

FFS it’s a game - if this is the most you have to worry about, then you lead a very charmed life.

That’s the point. The amount of police time wasted at football games is criminal in itself. Doesn’t happen with other sports. It’s not because it’s “working class” either before someone chips in. It’s because the professional game is based on money before sportsmanship. The toxic tribalism means you can play shit football and still rake it in.

How are they not being safe, I don't see how booing is a massive deal or unsafe? The laser person needs to caught and reprimanded. Groups of people are not accountable for the actions of one.

Anyone found guilty of these actions should at least be banned, however from what I have seen a vast majority of English fans have behaved responsibly, so why should they be punished because of a few.