Football Lads Alliance

{{Islamophobia}}
The '''Football Lads Alliance''' (FLA) and its offshoot the '''Democratic Football Lads Alliance''' (DFLA) are [[far right|far-right]], anti-[[Islam]]ic groups in the [[UK]], with links to football hooliganism and other British [[far-right]] groups including the [[English Defence League]] and personalities such as [[Tommy Robinson]].<ref name=searchlight20171011>[http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2017/10/football-lads-alliance-the-far-right-march-plus-six-things-you-need-to-know/ Football Lads Alliance: the far right march, plus six things you need to know], Tash Shifrin, Martin Smith and James, Searchlight Magazine, 11 Oct 2017, first published on Dream Deferred, 8 oct 2017</ref><ref name=searchlight20180513>[http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/2018/05/analysis-tommy-robinsons-day-for-freedom-a-new-turning-point-for-fascism-and-the-far-right/ Analysis: Tommy Robinson’s ‘Day for Freedom’ – a new turning point for fascism and the far right], Martin Smith and Tash Shifrin, Spotlight Magazine, 13 May 2018, first published on ''Dream Deferred'' on 10 May 2018</ref> Since the FLA was created around June 2017, both it and later the DFLA have staged rallies and marches around the UK, with various speakers associated with the far-right, [[alt-right]] and [[Islamophobia|anti-Islamic]] groups.

Initially they followed tactics similar to those used by the earlier far-right, anti-immigrant [[English Defence League]] at its inception: attaching themselves to legitimate causes such as victims of terrorism, military veterans, and [[free speech]].<ref name=guardian20180317/> However, gradually their true character was revealed as [[racists]] associated with the far-right.<ref name=bbc3/><ref name=vice/><ref name=wp>{{wpa|Football Lads Alliance}}</ref> They have been condemned by anti-racist organisations such as Stand Up To Racism,<ref name=sutredinburgh/><ref>[http://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/3592-2/ Bristol City FC stands up to racism], Stand Up To Racism, 11 Dec 2017</ref> [[Hope not Hate]],<ref name=hnh/> and Searchlight,<ref name=searchlight20180513/> and repudiated by the legitimate organisations they supported.<ref name=chronicle20180216/>

==Football Lads Alliance==
The Football Lads Alliance is the older organisation. It has its roots in football hooligan gangs (known as firms) — "football lads" is what members of firms call themselves.<ref name=searchlight20180513/> It was set up in June 2017 in the aftermath of the {{wpl|2017 Westminster attack||,}} {{wpl|Manchester Arena bombing||,}} {{wpl|2017 London Bridge attack||,}} three attacks by [[Islamist]] [[terrorists]] in the UK. It was founded by former hooligan John Meighan who was the leader until early 2018.<ref name=guardian20180317/> He resigned after a row with the British Legion over inappropriate use of the Legion's poppy logo.<ref name=bbc3>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/e5ee9e0a-18d7-49a4-a3c2-80b6b4222058 Football Lads Alliance: ‘We could have a civil war in this country’], BBC, 9 May 2018</ref> It promotes itself through private Facebook groups, and also sought to recruit from genuine football fans.<ref name=searchlight20180513/><ref name=guardian20180317/> It initially claimed to be not racist, not extremist, and not far-right, and originally prohibited all signs and banners from its marches.<ref name=searchlight20180513/> However, it increasingly moved to the far-right, with extremist speakers and racist rhetoric.<ref name=vice>[https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/kzx8jw/are-the-football-lads-alliance-another-far-right-street-movement Are the Football Lads Alliance Another Far-Right Street Movement?], James Poulter & Simon Childs, Vice, 23 Mar 2018</ref> Its members have called for London mayor Sadiq Khan to be hanged and threatened and ridiculed black female MP [[Diane Abbott]].<ref name=bbc3/><ref name=guardian20180317/>

Organisations such as Searchlight and Dream Deferred have chronicled its members' links to organisations such as the [[English Defence League]] and individuals such as former EDL leader [[Tommy Robinson]].<ref name=searchlight20180513/> The FLA's marches initially attracted a mixture of far-right supporters and football fans who were not racist and were genuinely concerned about terrorism and extremism.<ref name=indy2017/> The Premier League, England's top association football league, issued a warning to clubs in March 2018 about the dangers of the FLA recruiting at grounds.<ref name=times2018>[https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/premier-league-clubs-warned-over-far-right-football-lads-alliance-0mgq2lppv Premier League clubs warned over ‘far-right’ Football Lads Alliance], The Times, 30 Mar 2018</ref>

The FLA held demos in London on 24 June 2017<ref name=dd201706>[http://www.dreamdeferred.org.uk/2017/06/a-second-warning-thousands-on-the-streets-of-london-as-far-right-reorganises/ Eyewitness report from first FLA demo: Football Lads Alliance puts thousands on the streets], Martin Smith and Tash Shifrin, Dream Deferred, 24 June 2017</ref> and 7 October 2017.<ref name=searchlight20180513/> The first event attracted around 5000 people, and speakers included Toni Bugle, an anti-Islam campaigner, and Mohan Singh, an associate of [[Tommy Robinson]].<ref name=searchlight20180513/> On 7 October, marchers threw [[beer]] cans and allegedly coins at anti-racists staging a silent counter-protest. Tommy Robinson was in attendance.<ref name=indy2017>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/football-lads-alliance-inside-far-right-march-london-edl-london-a7988451.html Football Lads Alliance: Inside the central London march of far-right linked group], Will Worley, The Independent, 7 October 2017</ref>

In late 2017 they tentatively branched out into [[Scotland]]. On 25 November, they marched in Edinburgh alongside Veterans against Terrorism: there were about 70 from VAT and 50 FLA supporters. Speakers included Toni Bugle, formerly of the [[English Democrats]]. It was opposed by Stand Up To Racism and representatives from the Labour Party and SNP.<ref name=sutredinburgh>[http://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/football-lads-alliance-scores-flop-scotland-sat-25-nov-edinburgh/ Football Lads Alliance scores a flop in Scotland – Sat 25 Nov, Edinburgh], Stand Up To Racism, 29 Nov 2017</ref>

By May 2018, the FLA seemed a spent force, with a march in Manchester proving a flop.<ref>[http://www.dreamdeferred.org.uk/2018/05/quick-notes-fla-in-manchester-dfla-in-woolwich/ Quick notes: FLA in Manchester, DFLA in Woolwich], Dream Deferred, 23 May 2018</ref> However a new force was copying its tactics and stealing its supporters.

==Democratic Football Lads Alliance==
The DFLA arose out of the FLA following tensions within the movement over strategy and how overtly racist to be, with the FLA's no-banners strategy proving controversial. On 24 March 2018 the FLA and DFLA each held marches in Birmingham, England, both claiming to be opposed to extremism. Around 2000 people attended the DFLA march and rally, which was addressed by representative from Justice4the21, which campaigns for justice for victims of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings, as well as Gerard Batten of [[UKIP]] and the more [[libertarian]] UKIP MEP Bill Etheridge. The FLA march attracted 3000 people, including [[Tommy Robinson]], with speakers including [[Anne Marie Waters]].<ref name=bbc20180324>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-43527109 Birmingham Football Lads Alliance demo: Thousands march in city], BBC, 24 Mar 2018</ref><ref name=dd20180324/> ''The Times'' reported "threatening behaviour towards Asian bystanders and … speeches attacking Muslims in Britain".<ref name=times2018/> Stand Up To Racism staged a counter-protest.<ref name=dd20180324>[http://www.dreamdeferred.org.uk/2018/03/preview-rival-factions-of-far-right-racist-football-lads-alliance-descend-on-birmingham/ Rival demos by far right FLA factions in Birmingham], Dream Deferred, 24 March 2018</ref>

The DFLA held a march in London on 6 May 2018.<ref name=searchlight20180513/> Anti-racism organisation Stand Up To Racism described it as a "'Day of Freedom' for racists and [[islamophobe]]s in London".<ref>[http://www.standuptoracism.org.uk/oppose-tommy-robinson-the-democratic-football-lads-alliance-london-6-may/ 6 May oppose Tommy Robinson & the "democratic" football lads alliance, London], Stand Up To Racism, 16 Apr 2018</ref> The other marchers included members of the [[White Pendragons]], [[Generation Identity]], [[English Defence League]], football hooligan group Chelsea Headhunters (who are linked to [[neo-Nazis]] [[Combat 18]]), and others. In contrast to the earlier FLA marches, many carried flags with alt-right and far-right symbols.<ref name=searchlight20180513/>

On 6 May, they joined a rally organised by far-right personality Tommy Robinson allegedly in support of "free speech". Speakers included Raheem Kassam (editor-in-chief at [[Breitbart]]'s London office, and a former aide to [[Nigel Farage]] with links to [[Donald Trump]]), alt-right superstar [[Milo Yiannopoulos]], [[UKIP]] leader Gerard Batten, islamophobe Anne Marie Waters, [[Gavin McInnes]] (of Proud Boys, a right-wing group who were involved in the [[Charlottesville]] protests), comedian Liam Tuffs, Count Dankula (real name Mark Meechan, a [[YouTube]] personality convicted of [[hate crimes]] for [[antisemitic]] YouTube videos<ref>[https://gizmodo.com/youtuber-count-dankula-convicted-of-hate-crime-for-vide-1823951727 YouTuber Count Dankula Convicted of Hate Crime for Video of Pug Making a 'Nazi Salute'] by Jennings Brown (3/21/18 10:35am) ''Gizmodo''.</ref>), Richard Inman of Veterans Against Terrorism, and via video-link [[Lauren Southern]] (a [[Canadian]] white nationalist who is banned from the UK for promoting racial hatred). [[Australian]] anti-immigration politician [[Pauline Hanson]] also sent a goodwill message.<ref name=searchlight20180513/>

They have links with West Ham football club, based in east London, which has faced calls to condemn the group. Mark Phillips, under-18s coach, went on a DFLA march in October 2018. Greg Smith, who sits on the club's Official Supporters' Board since late 2018, is a supporter of the DFLA.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/mar/26/west-ham-face-calls-to-condemn-democratic-football-lads-alliance West Ham face calls to condemn Democratic Football Lads Alliance], The Guardian, 26 March 2019</ref>

==Supporters and allies==
One of the notable tactics of FLA and to a lesser extent DFLA have been their attempts to ally themselves with legitimate-seeming causes and campaign groups ostensibly existing to oppose terrorism, including Veterans Against Terrorism (VAT) and Justice4the21. VAT were involved in the 24 March 2018 rally, and have admitted their close links to the FLA, making many question their legitimacy.<ref name=searchlight20180513/><ref name=hnh/><ref name=chronicle20180216/> Other more reputable veterans' organisations like the British Legion have distanced themselves.<ref name=chronicle20180216>[https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/veterans-against-terrorism-march-newcastle-14296775 Veterans Against Terrorism march in Newcastle: Charities distance themselves as organiser speaks], Laura Hill, ChronicleLive, 16 Feb 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/hundreds-armed-flags-march-through-14303402 Hundreds armed with flags march through Newcastle for Veterans Against terrorism protest], Chronicle Live, 17 Feb 2018</ref> Justice4the21 were involved in the March 2018 Birmingham protests.<ref name=bbc20180324/>

[[Hope not Hate]] reported in March 2018 that UKIP had been holding meetings with the FLA and DFLA, and with Veterans Against Terrorism, a group associated with the FLA, with the intention of recruiting them to UKIP. Justin Smith of the DFLA claimed they was helping UKIP with strategies and promotion.<ref name=hnh>[https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/2018/03/06/ukip-forms-alliance-hooligan-led-street-movements/ UKIP forms alliance with hooligan-led street movements], Hope Not Hate</ref>

While it has been condemned by anti-racism campaigners, the FLA has found support in various sectors of the right. One example is Brendan O'Neill who wrote in ''The Spectator'' claiming it was a "working class" organisation standing up for the "voiceless".<ref>[https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/10/the-football-lads-alliance-is-a-working-class-movement-and-the-political-class-wants-to-ignore-it/ The Football Lads Alliance is a working-class movement – and the political class wants to ignore it], Brendan O'Neill, The Spectator, 9 Oct 2017</ref> It's unclear whether this represents O'Neill's naivete or the magazine's desire to position itself as the British home of the alt-right.

The FLA have also been accused of supporting Islamophobic terrorist Darren Osborne who killed a Muslim man, Makram Ali, in a van attack outside a London mosque.<ref name=guardian20180317>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/17/football-lads-alliance-secret-facebook-page-racism-violence-sexism Secret Facebook page reveals violence at heart of forum for ‘football fans’], ''The Guardian'', 17 Mar 2018</ref>

==See also==
*[[Pie and Mash Squad]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Islamophobia]]

Categories: Islamophobia