England players endorse anti-racism campaign after Bulgaria abuse

Three Lions squad wear sweatbands bearing the message ‘Kick Racism Out of Football’ after black players were targeted by some home fans in Friday’s 3-0 win in Sofia

 The England players wore sweatbands bearing the message 'Kick Racism Out of Football', the slogan of English football’s own anti-racism campaign, on Monday as they participated in a training session in preparation for Tuesday evening’s clash with Wales at Wembley.

Chair of Kick it Out, Lord Herman Ouseley, said: "This sends out a positive and powerful message that we need to remind ourselves that the game is open to all people from all backgrounds and nationalities, and to keep our behaviour in check even in the white heat international football can generate."

Racist chants were directed at the Three Lions’ black players in Sofia on Friday evening, with Manchester United winger Ashley Young and Arsenal winger Theo Walcott the targets of monkey noises. Several Bulgarian fans also made Nazi salutes.

After the match, the English FA immediately announced their intention to report the incident to Uefa, and European football’s governing body is believed to be waiting to study the report from the match delegate on Monday before deciding whether to take action.

Wayne Rooney said after the game: "As players we can hear it on the pitch. It has been going on for years and it is not right. It needs to stop and hopefully something will be done about it."

There is, however, also the possibility that the English FA could face action after Three Lions fans reportedly responded to the Bulgarians’ racist abuse with anti-Romany chants.

Goal

RIOTING IN DORTMUND AS NEO-NAZIS HOLD DEMONSTRATION (Germany)

Police using water cannons and batons intervened Saturday after a neo-Nazi march in the German city of Dortmund descended into rioting between the far-right and anti-fascist counter-demonstrators. Around 400 neo-Nazis had gathered in the western city for a planned march, but were met by around 4,000 left-wing activists, according to police estimates.

Although many of the anti-Nazi demonstrators protested peacefully, a group attacked the neo-Nazis, prompting a massive police intervention after they failed to separate the two groups. Even before the march got underway, police had used pepper spray and reported several injuries after around 100 counter-demonstrators had evaded a roadblock. Guntram Schneider, the minister for integration in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia who is participating the counter-demonstration, said it was intolerable that the neo-Nazis were allowed to march through Dortmund each year.

DPA

POLICE ESTIMATE FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISTS AT 600 (Czech Rep.)

There are 500 to 600 neo-Nazis and some 5000 people who openly sympathise with far-right extremism, and most of them are based in the Ostrava region, Prague and North Bohemia, Robert Slachta, head of the police squad fighting organised crime (UOOZ) told Czech Television (CT) yesterday.

Far-right extremists had nothing to do with the beginning of the problems in the Sluknov area in northern Bohemia but they are now trying to take advantage of the tension between Romanies and majority population, Slachta said. In reaction to two brutal attacks by Romanies in a border area in August, the public started protesting against the violence. The far-right Workers' Party of Social Justice (DSSS) and other groups have recently been organising demonstrations against Romany crime in northern Bohemian towns. On Friday, a demonstration aimed against Romanies was held in Varnsdorf.

On Saturday, a hundred of extremists joined a march through this town. The police have succeeded in preventing clashes between extremists and Romanies so far. A riot police squad was sent to the area to help maintain order and security. Deputy Police President Vladislav Husak said the police fear that conflicts might arise in other potentially risky regions than northern Bohemia, too, and they monitor the situation. Husak said locals prevailed in the protest held this weekend but the marches scheduled for next weekend will probably be a prevailingly extremist event.

Prague Daily Monitor

Rabbi disguise for EDL leader (UK)

Stephen Lennon in Rabbi outfit

The leader of the English Defence League disguised himself as a rabbi to address supporters during a demonstration in east London on Saturday.

Stephen Lennon – known as Tommy Robinson – donned the outfit, which included a black hat and fake beard, in an apparent attempt to evade the police.

Introduced as "Rabbi Benjamin Kidderman", he climbed onto a platform and announced: "Do you know how long I've been waiting to take this s*** off?"

Mr Lennon then removed the outfit and addressed the crowd. By attending the protest the 28-year-old breached his bail conditions imposed following a football-related offence, but was not arrested.

EDL supporters clashed with police and were involved in scuffles during the demo.

Around 3,000 officers had been drafted in to maintain control in the Whitechapel, Aldgate and Tower Hamlets areas of the East End. They made 60 arrests, mainly for affray and public order offences, but said the day had passed "without major incident".

Hundreds of residents and anti-fascist group supporters took part in a counter-demo.

Of Mr Lennon's disguise, a CST spokesman said: "The EDL only uses Jews and Israel in order to try and provoke Muslims. It is racist politics and anyone who sincerely cares about Jews, or Israel, should condemn it."

Home Secretary Theresa May had banned the EDL from marching through the borough of Tower Hamlets and the City of London.

The Jewish Chronicle