RACIST online trolls who target England’s Euro 2024 squad have been warned they will be unmasked within hours by social media companies.
And fans who misbehave in Germany face being frogmarched by cops to the ATM to hand over on the spot fines.
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Senior police officers visited Gareth Southgate’s squad at St George’s Park before the March double header with Brazil and Belgium to reinforce the message that they would be fully supported by the authorities.
Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were all subjected to foul racist abuse after the shoot-out defeat by Italy in 2021.
Cheshire Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the country’s leading football cop, said: “We were conscious after the Euros in 2021, where there was racist abuse of some of England’s black players, and were able to prosecute some people.
“We were very keen to speak to the squad and make sure they were aware we were committed to dealing with this and treat it really seriously and also to advise them how to protect themselves.
“One problem in the past was that there was a six month statute of limitations on these sort of social media posts and when we asked the companies for data we wouldn’t get a response until after that limit had passed.
“But we have worked very hard and now we are seeing those replies turned around in a matter of days.
“So if people think they can hide behind their keyboards and commit hate crimes online, we will pursue them and we will prosecute.”
Police and the Foreign Office expect 300,000-plus England fans – the vast majority without tickets – will travel to Germany for what is the first “accessible” tournament since Euro 2016.
More than 2,000 banning orders – which see hooligans ordered to hand in their passports for the duration of the tournament – remain in place.
But Chf Con Roberts, who made it clear he does not expect widespread problems – pointing to the spectacular improvement of the behaviour of England fans over the last decade – made it clear that German police will crack down on antisocial behaviour in the streets, stadiums and fan zone.
This summer could see a large number of England fans attending their first tournament, although there will also be the “largest deployment” of British cops alongside the hosts on record.
Referring to the 2005 hooligan movie, Chf Con Roberts added: “In terms of behaviour, we’re talking more ‘The Inbetweeners’ than ‘Green Street’.
“The hope is that our fans will be good guests in Germany, support the team and enjoy the country, as they have done at the recent tournaments overseas.
“We will have police spotters at every game and with the fans, so if they do look as if they are stepping out of line they will try to calm things down.
“Germany has a similar football and social culture – their police are used to people drinking, singing and chanting and the people are reasonably tolerant.
“But there are certain things you should simply not do, obvious things, even if you have drunk too much. And if you are fined by the police, that is on the spot.
If you don’t have the money in your pocket, you can be marched to the nearest cash point. The fines are unlimited.”
