World Cup Comments Hit a Nerve
FIFA President Gianni Infantino faced criticism in England after joking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland that, “For the first time in history… no Brit was arrested during a World Cup.” He added, “Imagine. This is something really, really special,” prompting laughter from the audience.
The remarks drew ire from the Football Supporters’ Association, which called them “cheap jokes” about English fans, and likely annoyed supporters from Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Many feel it downplays decades of progress in curbing fan disorder at international tournaments.
England Fans’ Record on the Global Stage
Looking at the numbers, Infantino’s claim is misleading but highlights a broader truth: England fans generally behave well abroad.
- At the 2002 World Cup in Japan, just one arrest occurred among 8,000 travelling fans.
- Germany 2006 saw around 350,000 fans, with only 21 arrests; most violence occurred in a Germany-Poland match.
- No England fans were arrested at the 2010 South Africa World Cup, and only minor incidents occurred in 2014 Brazil (15 arrests for non-violent offences).
- Russia 2018 recorded six arrests among 20,000 English fans, and Qatar 2022 had zero arrests among roughly 4,000 fans.
Across six tournaments from 1998 to 2022, there were 55 arrests out of 432,000 travelling fans, with half of those non-violent. Chief Constable Mark Roberts emphasized that “British fans behaving at World Cups is the norm, not something special” and cautioned that comments like Infantino’s are “neither helpful nor accurate.”
Euros and the Persistence of Stereotypes
Problems for England fans have been more pronounced in Europe. Euro 2000 saw 945 arrests amid clashes in Belgium and the Netherlands, prompting the Football (Disorder) Act 2000 to strengthen banning orders and police powers. Subsequent Euros had varying incidents: minor clashes in 2004 and 2012, and 65 arrests in 2016 Marseille, including 45 English fans.
The delayed Euro 2020 final in London again drew negative attention, with crowd trouble and stadium breaches leading UEFA to punish the England team and the FA. These incidents, though not representative of all supporters, continue to fuel the stereotype of unruly English fans abroad, something Infantino’s comment unintentionally echoed.
