Rowdy England fans were filmed chanting ’10 German bombers’ in the streets of Dusseldorf on Friday night on the opening weekend of Euro 2024.
Three Lions supporters have been warned by German police not to sing the song with a clear message: ‘Don’t be a d***!’
Members of the crowd, jumping around with beer cans and an English flag outside a Mexican restaurant, belted out the song just two days ahead of England’s clash with Serbia on Sunday.
An estimated record of 300,000 England followers are predicted to make the journey to germany for the month-long tournament.
‘Ten German bombers’ – sung to the tune of ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’ – refers to German casualties in the Second World War.
Beer-swilling England fans were filmed singing ’10 german bombers’ in Germany on Friday
It has regularly been heard at England matches, including their recent 3-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday night.
There are fears that it could be frequently heard at the Euros and despite the warning of German authorities, they are powerless to stop it.
According to The telegraph, chief of police Peter Both said: ‘That’s what I would say to them: Don’t be a d***. If they sing a song like this, I can’t change it.
‘It’s not punishable in Germany. I hope that all the other peaceful and law-abiding fans say to them: ‘Stop it.’
‘I know, and all people in Germany know, there is a long-lasting sporting rivalry between England and Germany. But it’s important for me to say it’s only a sporting one.
‘Our countries have been, and remain, allies for over seven decades.’
Both also revealed that any supporter seen performing a Nazi salute would be arrested.
‘If we talk about showing the Hitler salute, it’s absolutely unbearable and intolerable,’ he said. ‘We have to tell them it’s punishable and criminal in Germany,’ he said.
German police have asked England fans not to sing ’10 German Bombers’ during the Euros
Chief of police Peter Both admitted that police will be powerless to arrest supporters singing the chant however have urged Three Lions fans not to ‘be a d***’ during the competition
A report last month claimed that fans found engaging in WW2 jibes will be marched over to ATMs and made to hand over a fine by local authorities
Last month, British police and the Foreign Office were told that those found engaging in WW2 jibes will be marched over to ATMs and made to hand over a fine by local authorities.
Fines could be up to amount to a month’s wages, according to The Sun.
The crackdown on football fans comes as 300,000 supporters to flock to Germany for the championship.
German police are reportedly concerned that the war-related songs may spark tension in cities like Frankfurt and Cologne which were blitzed by the RAF during the war.
England fans have already been hitting the beers, with others spotted necking pints and singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ in the streets on Friday.
Fans were spotted downing shots with German pensioners and chanting football anthems more than 48 hours before England’s opening fixture against Serbia.
Fan chiefs say the huge support – mirrored by an estimated 200,000 Scotland fans who have also made the journey – is down to the tournament being the first foreign competition within a short travelling distance from the UK since manager Gareth Southgate took over to revitalise England in 2016.
