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anotheoldgit | 09:57 Wed 17th Oct 2018 | News
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https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/oct/16/west-ham-coach-democratic-football-lads-alliance-march-mark-phillips

/// West Ham took action on Tuesday evening, although there is a chance Phillips could earn a reprieve if he expresses remorse and agrees to attend one of Kick It Out’s educational courses about discrimination. The Premier League warned clubs about the DFLA’s growing presence inside stadiums this year. ///
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They were protesting against “returning jihadists”, “thousands of Awol migrants”, “rape gangs and groomers” and “veterans treated like traitors” seems fair enough for me, and there was no violence until the police led them into the path of the violent face covered, anti-racist protesters
Democracy has nothing to do with it. Far too often, our football clubs have been condemned for not doing enough regards the 'Kick It Out' campaign. They cannot be seen to condone any employees supporting such organisations as the DFLA. Well done WHU. Now let's see which is more important to Phillips, his job or the DFLA.
you'd be happy if he were a raving trot
marxist fire brand or
went around protesting "they are keeling my brozzairs in Syria"
or - the boys in the SOuth were always right - we should have a united Ireland....

its a funny old world on AB - it is !
No, aog. They 'said' they were protesting against those things. I've witnessed such a rally and it soon became apparent just what it is they protest against.
Groups like this are the inevitable result of the activities of TROB/TFOJ.
The FLA and their flags and insignia are banned from our club too and quite right. They use ‘opposition to jihadism’ as a cover for racism’ and luckily they don’t fool most fans.
All seems fairly straightforward. The (D)FLA are a racist organisation and the football authorities do not want anything to do with them. So they warned the English Premiership clubs about the DFLA. That was highly publicised at the time. If someone employed by a Premiership club then decides to attend a DFLA Rally, then the club have every right to end his contract.

The Rally ended up in a riot as EDLF/BNP rallies always do. To then publicise that you were there on TwitFace would seem to be a very stupid thing to do.

Football hooliganism has largely been reduced in this country from the unacceptable levels it was in the 1970s/80s. No one wants a return to that, which is why the football authorities have taken a zero tolerance of the DFLA.

Far right politics and football should not mix. The English Premier League have a multi-million pound worldwide brand to look after, and they do not want it besmirched by intolerant yobs.

// The Premier League is to warn clubs about the Football Lads Alliance after investigations have revealed that the group is using fans and stadiums to push an anti-Muslim agenda. //

// The Times went undercover at an FLA march in Birmingham last weekend and saw evidence of threatening behaviour towards Asian bystanders and heard speeches attacking Muslims in Britain. //
// It [the DFLA]has received support from Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the English Defence League. //

// Robinson was convicted in 2011 of using "threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour" during a fight between supporters of Luton Town and Newport County in Luton the previous year. Robinson reportedly led the group of Luton fans, and played an integral part in starting a 100-man brawl, during which he chanted "EDL till I die". He was sentenced to a 12-month community rehabilitation order with 150 hours unpaid work and a three-year ban from attending football matches. //
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Gromit

/// The Times went undercover at an FLA march in Birmingham last weekend and saw evidence of threatening behaviour towards Asian bystanders and heard speeches attacking Muslims in Britain. ///

Couldn't have been the Asian bystanders who used threatening behaviour after hearing speeches attacking some Muslims in Britain for carrying out terrorist attacks and belonging to child abduction gangs and of course returning jihadists?

Do you think Gromit, that no one should speak out against the deeds carried out in the name of Islam?
AOG

I suggest you look up the meaning of the word ‘bystander’.
The Grooming is not done in the name of Islam. Muslims are as digusted as everyone else at the criminal actions of Pakstani men.

Plenty of people have rightly condemned terrorism and sexual offences. Even a convicted football hooligan like Robinson can condemn it. But if he and the DFLA then turn that into attacks on people for just being of a different religion (who are otherwise law abiding), then they deserve to be shut up.
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/// I suggest you look up the meaning of the word ‘bystander’. ///
One can be a bystander and although not actually taking part in the march, doesn't mean that they did not voice their opinions with a vengeance at the passing marchers.
/// Muslims are as digusted as everyone else at the criminal actions of Pakstani men ///

Then why don't they join those who are protesting against them?

/// But if he and the DFLA then turn that into attacks on people for just being of a different religion (who are otherwise law abiding), then they deserve to be shut up. ///

He is not 'attacking' (no I would use the word addressing) anyone for belonging to a different religion, he is addressing those who would wish all these crimes committed by members of a said religion swept under the carpet. Those who are law abiding have nothing to fear.
'there was no violence until the police led them into the path of the violent face covered, anti-racist protesters'

According to the person standing up for DFLA. Well, he would say that wouldn't he (after he admitted there were several people on the march who were ex football hooligans!)

You can't complain about democracy and want to ban those from conter protesting. It's their right and that is a cornerstone of our society. Take that away and you, ironically, disturb the foundations of democracy.
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/// You can't complain about democracy and want to ban those from conter protesting. ///

I do not want to ban them or anyone else from counter protesting, but why must they always turn what would otherwise be a peaceful protest into a street fight.
As I said, we only have the word of the supporter of DFLA's account of who was violent first, after he admitted there were ex football hooligans among their ranks.
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Zacs-Master

/// As I said, we only have the word of the supporter of DFLA's account of who was violent first, ///

Well he was there and we were not.
"ex football hooligans"

EX, so no problem then, unless you are scraping the barrel for justification.

Time and time again it has been shown the violence comes from the left in a counter protest. I dont know whether this one did but it is quite reasonable to beliefs the DFLA given the lefts previous.
It is if it suits your agenda, yes. This threads being a point in case.

And if you believe an ex football hooligan who attends such a protest has desisted from violence altogether, then I think your being a bit daft.
The West Ham coach admitted
// a LOT of ex-football hooligans there //

YMB
// ex-football hooligans" so no problem then //
Are you saying that once a prison sentence or ban has been served, that they should no longer be regarded as hooligans?

Football hooligan convictions are usually for public order/ violent conduct (Robinson’s was). So we have a rally of A LOT of hooligans and it ends up a brawl. C’mon, its not rocket science.
Question Author
Gromit

/// So we have a rally of A LOT of hooligans and it ends up a brawl. C’mon, its not rocket science. ///

Sometimes one has to meet like with like.
AOG - Sometimes one has to meet like with like."

And sometimes, one would be better staying at home and not providing provocation because of the need to feel nurtured and needed and part of a gang - which feeds these demo participants.

I believe that neither side should protest in this way - it achieves nothing and almost always leads to conflict and violence.

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