England fans’ flags stolen by hooligans as tensions build before Serbia clash

A group of hooligans have stolen flags belonging to England fans as the Three Lions prepare to take on Serbia in Germany on Sunday.

A Telegram account called GruppaOF Official, which shares information about groups of football ultras around Europe, shared the image showing a group of men holding two custom St George’s flags.

One flag has a poppy and ‘Maidstone’ emblazoned across it while the other has ‘North Birmingham’, a Birmingham City Football Club badge, and the Birmingham City Coat of Arms on it.

The GruppaOF Official account says the flag is being held aloft by fans of Borac Banja Luka, a Bosnian football club. There over a million Serbs living in Bosnia, meaning the men could be in Germany to support Serbia at Euro 2024.

England get their EURO 2024 campaign underway against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen at the Veltins-Arena, home of Schalke 04.

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Thousands of England fans have been seen on the streets of Gelsenkirchen and nearby Dusseldorf ahead of the game, with some footage showing a number of supporters singing ’10 German bombers in the air’.

This comes just a week after Gelsenkirchen’s chief of police warned England fans not to sing the song, adding: “Don’t be a d***.”

He told the Telegraph: “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.”

England manager Gareth Southgate has said he “expects everybody to enjoy the football” when asked about the security risk surrounding England’s opening game.

Asked to send his message to England fans, he said: “I expect everybody to enjoy the football. I’ve been fortunate to be involved in a lot of tournaments, and travel to tournaments I’ve not been directly involved in.

“They’re great carnivals of football – an opportunity to see a different part of the world and meet people from other parts of the world, have a brilliant time, so I’m sure everybody is coming to do that. I hope the whole of Europe can come together for the brilliant game that we’re involved in and support their team.”

His comments come after officials designated England’s opening fixture against Serbia as “high-risk.”

Fans have been served lower-alcohol beer in the stadium and are banned from drinking in the stands.