German police chief tells England fans ‘don’t be d**ks’ as he pleads with them not to sing ‘ten bombers’ chant at Euros
A GERMAN police boss has pleaded with rowdy England football fans not to sing a controversial World War 2 chant at the Euros.
Police chief Peter Both sent out a simple message to boozy Brits that may be tempted to sing the “Ten German Bombers” song during the tournament telling them: “Don’t be d**ks.”
For years, passionate footy fans have blurted out the damming lyrics with the latest offensive chants being heard ringing around St James’ Park on Monday when England took on Bosnia.
The cop, who heads the local Gelsenkirchen police force, warned the excitable Three Lions not to be “d**ks” ahead of the first match against Serbia on June 16.
However, the chant which references German WW2 aircraft being “shot down” by the British Royal Air Force, can’t actually be stopped by cops.
Both confessed that his team would be helpless in prosecuting any football fans for their song choice regardless of the intent.
But with the tournament taking place in Germany in less than two weeks time the possibility of German fans also attending matches or being in bars and pubs is high.
Leaving Both and his team wary of any potential fighting that could erupt if it begins to be chanted.
The chief’s comments came after Monday’s match as he referenced a recent Football Supporters’ Association campaign discouraging England fans from using the lyrics.
He told The Telegraph: “I would say to them, don’t be a d**k.
“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.”
England fans paying the price
By Nick Parker and Rob Pattinson
The Sun revealed in May that UK police and the Foreign Office have been briefed that singing culprits will be marched straight to ATMs in Germany and ordered to pay fines if caught singing offensive chants.
Fines are expected to be up to a month’s wages — with supporters instructed to declare their income.
German sources confirmed the cash crackdown will be launched to deter boorish behaviour among the 300,000 fans expected during the tournament.
A police source said: “The Germans have made it clear they will step in to stop threatening or anti-social behaviour. This includes offensive songs about World War Two.”
Authorities warned war-related chants may inflame tensions in cities like Frankfurt and Cologne, which were blitzed by the RAF and where England are to play.
THE PROBLEMATIC SONG
Loosely based on the nursery rhyme “Ten Green Bottles”, the corrupted tune references “German bombers” and the RAF during the war-fuelled fighting during WW2.
The song counts down from 10 German bombers all the way to zero with each line referencing the RAF shooting them down.
It’s sung in the tune of another children’s song: “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain”.
The song has been blasted many times for being discriminatory and it’s not the first time higher-ups have challenged it.
The England Supporters Travel Club warned fans in 2017 that singing the song could risk them facing bans from future games.
Both also revealed that the English Football Association (FA) asked for a ban on alcohol sales in the immediate vicinity of the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen ahead of the nation’s Euro opener.
The match against Serbia has been labelled as the most “high-risk” game of the tournament due to the rowdiness of travelling England fans and the typical brutality of Serbian supporters.
Serbian ultras are known for creating unhinged carnage when they descend on the footballing world if they feel antagonised.
Any ban was seen as unlawful and rejected however special measures have been put in place.
Alcohol consumption would be policed during the game with a two-drink limit being placed on individual orders and a ban from drinking in seats.
Low-alcohol beer will also be the only available drink sold inside the stadium.
These measures don’t apply to the other two group games in Gelsenkirchen later on in the competition.