Football hooligans alliance issues warning ahead of Remembrance Sunday march

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FOOTBALL Football hooligans alliance issues warning ahead of Remembrance Sunday march

Festus Chuma 22:00 - 08.11.2023

UK football fans unite for a peaceful Remembrance Sunday march amid police vigilance, forgoing violence to honor British values.

Football supporters across the UK are bracing for a tense Remembrance Sunday as alliances of hooligan groups have urged members to refrain from bringing weapons to a march intended to 'protect' the Cenotaph from perceived threats.

Metropolitan Police are preparing for what could be a 'nightmare weekend', with over a thousand expected to descend on the capital.

The call to action was circulated among gangs of football supporters from across the country by 'Football Lads against Extremism', a group with far-right ties.

According to Daily Mail, their message aimed to unite supporters groups and safeguard the planned parade from any possible interference from the "far left and pro-Palestine supporters." While protests are scheduled for Armistice Day on Saturday, concerns have arisen that Sunday's events may be targeted.

Authorities have prepared for what is expected to be a challenging weekend, with police officers being deployed from different parts of the country to assist London's police force during this period.

In light of the preparations, organizers of Sunday's action have explicitly advised attendees not to bring weapons to the gathering, emphasizing that violence is not the solution.

A message posted online stated, "Do not and I repeat do not come tooled up. We are much better than that."

Comments below the post echoed this sentiment, urging dignity and peaceful behavior among attendees.

However, one user alleged that potential opposition might bring dangerous items such as machetes, highlighting the need for caution.

Interestingly, amid these circumstances, Stoke City's firm N40, known as Naughty Forty, has demonstrated a desire for unity.

They have organized two sold-out coaches to transport group members to the capital in order to show support and protect what they perceive as British values.

Sunday's events coincide with West Ham and Chelsea hosting matches against Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, respectively.

Arsenal and Crystal Palace, London's other two teams, also have home games on Armistice Day itself.

While no protests are currently planned for Sunday, the concerns have prompted a heightened state of security around the city.

The alliance involved in Sunday's planned event acknowledges the previous Football Lads marches in 2017, with the second one attended by Tommy Robinson, the founder of the English Defence League.

In 2020, the Democratic Football Lads Alliance called on its supporters to safeguard war memorials from Black Lives Matter protestors, resulting in clashes with both demonstrators and law enforcement in Trafalgar Square.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the actions of these far-right protestors as "racist thuggery" when six police officers were injured due to the throwing of missiles and smoke grenades. 

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