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'''Football Lads Alliance''' (FLA) is an English [[Demonstration (protest)|street-protest]] movement established on June 4th, 2017,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://essexstar.co.uk/football-lads-alliance-arrange-march-terrorism/|title=FOOTBALL LADS ALLIANCE ARRANGE MARCH AGAINST TERRORISM|last=|first=|date=October 6, 2017|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref> with the aim of bringing public and government attentions to terrorism and "all forms of extremism" and ideologies that fuel it.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/10/the-football-lads-alliance-is-a-working-class-movement-and-the-political-class-wants-to-ignore-it/|title=The Football Lads Alliance is a working-class Movement and the Political Class wants to ignore it|last=O'Neill|first=Brendan|date=October 9, 2017|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref> The FLA was founded by John Meighan, a Spurs fan and property manager following the terror attacks in [[Manchester]] and [[London Bridge]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/who-are-football-lads-alliance-anti-extremism-protest-group-condemned-by-diane-abbott-1642152|title=Who are Football Lads Alliance, the 'anti-extremism' protest group condemned by Diane Abbott?|last=Wright|first=Paul|date=2017-10-06|work=International Business Times UK|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en}}</ref> Since its inception, the group has grown tremendously boasting of about 70,000 supporters.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> FLA founder John Meighan has maintained his ground that far right groups should stay away from their marches and declared their motto as "No racism, No violence" .<ref name=":3" />
'''Football Lads Alliance''' (FLA) is an English [[Demonstration (protest)|street-protest]] movement established in 2017. Founded by football fans concerned about terrorist incidents in England, the movement describes themselves as against "all forms of extremism". However, the movement has attracted criticism for promoting [[Islamophobia]], aggressive behaviour and failure to condemn [[Right-wing terrorism|right-wing terrorism]].

== Aim ==
FLA aims to unite football fans across the UK against all forms of terrorism.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/pub-bombing-families-boosted-support-13538673|title=New football fans group backs pub bombings families|last=Richards|first=Andy|date=2017-08-28|work=birminghammail|access-date=2017-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britisharmedforcesthebest.com/single-post/2017/09/27/Big-Phil-Campion-Set-to-join-tens-of-thousands-of-football-fans-heading-to-London-for-Football-Lads-Alliance-march-against-extremism|title=British Armed Forces The Best{{!}}Home|website=British Armed Forces The Best{{!}}Home|access-date=2017-10-24}}</ref> They engage in street protest so as to bring the attention of the government to issues of terrorism with the purpose of bringing the government to action against terrorism and factors that encourage it.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/four-coachloads-bristol-city-fans-529865|title=Why are four coachloads of football fans going to London when there's no match?|last=Cork|first=Tristan|date=2017-09-25|work=bristolpost|access-date=2017-10-24}}</ref>

FLA has condemned racism and distanced itself from political and religious affiliation. They claim to oppose anyone who tries to impose their will, beliefs or politics on others through acts of terrorism.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://london-post.co.uk/football-lads-alliance-founder-speaks-40000-marchers-attended-london-march/|title=Football Lads Alliance founder speaks out after 40,000 Marchers attended London march - London Post|last=Ldn-Post|date=2017-10-12|work=London Post|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-GB}}</ref>


== Movement ==
== Movement ==

Revision as of 07:22, 25 October 2017

Football Lads Alliance
AbbreviationFLA
Formation2017
FounderJohn Meighan
Region
England

Football Lads Alliance (FLA) is an English street-protest movement established on June 4th, 2017,[1] with the aim of bringing public and government attentions to terrorism and "all forms of extremism" and ideologies that fuel it.[2] The FLA was founded by John Meighan, a Spurs fan and property manager following the terror attacks in Manchester and London Bridge.[3] Since its inception, the group has grown tremendously boasting of about 70,000 supporters.[1][3] FLA founder John Meighan has maintained his ground that far right groups should stay away from their marches and declared their motto as "No racism, No violence" .[2]

Aim

FLA aims to unite football fans across the UK against all forms of terrorism.[4][5] They engage in street protest so as to bring the attention of the government to issues of terrorism with the purpose of bringing the government to action against terrorism and factors that encourage it.[6]

FLA has condemned racism and distanced itself from political and religious affiliation. They claim to oppose anyone who tries to impose their will, beliefs or politics on others through acts of terrorism.[7]

Movement

The movement was founded by John Meighan following the Manchester Arena bombing and London Bridge attack in 2017, quickly gaining a following on social media.[8]

The group hosted a "United Against Extremism" march in June 2017 on the same day as the English Defence League.[8][9] A second march, held by the group in London on 7 October 2017 against "all forms of extremism", was intended to be a silent march.[10][11] It was attended by figures associated with the English Defence League such as Tommy Robinson.[12] Some attending the rally abused and threw projectiles at counter-protesters behind a police line, labelling them "fucking paedophiles", though no arrests were made.[11] The charity Walking With The Wounded withdrew support for the event in London following allegations of the far-right motivations of the FLA.[11]

Criticism

The group was criticised by Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, who accused them of promoting anti-Islamic speakers and not denouncing right-wing terrorism.[8] Stand Up To Racism, the anti-racism charity, also criticised the group, noting that they did not criticise far-right terrorist attacks such as the Murder of Jo Cox.[13] Unite Against Fascism raised concerns that the founder of the alliance, John Meighan, has previously received a suspended prison sentence relating to football hooliganism and served a ban from attending football matches. The conviction related to Meighan's participation in a brawl between 90 men in Mile End.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ a b "FOOTBALL LADS ALLIANCE ARRANGE MARCH AGAINST TERRORISM". 6 October 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  2. ^ a b O'Neill, Brendan (9 October 2017). "The Football Lads Alliance is a working-class Movement and the Political Class wants to ignore it". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  3. ^ a b Wright, Paul (6 October 2017). "Who are Football Lads Alliance, the 'anti-extremism' protest group condemned by Diane Abbott?". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  4. ^ Richards, Andy (28 August 2017). "New football fans group backs pub bombings families". birminghammail. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  5. ^ "British Armed Forces The Best|Home". British Armed Forces The Best|Home. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  6. ^ Cork, Tristan (25 September 2017). "Why are four coachloads of football fans going to London when there's no match?". bristolpost. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  7. ^ Ldn-Post (12 October 2017). "Football Lads Alliance founder speaks out after 40,000 Marchers attended London march - London Post". London Post. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  8. ^ a b c Wright, Paul (6 October 2017). "Who are Football Lads Alliance, the 'anti-extremism' protest group condemned by Diane Abbott?". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 12 October 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. ^ Emanuel, Louis (24 June 2017). "Heavy police presence in London as Football Lads Alliance and EDL march". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 12 October 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  10. ^ "WATCH: Who Are the Football Lads Alliance?". Vice. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  11. ^ a b c Worley, Will (7 October 2017). "Football Lads Alliance: Inside the central London march of far-right linked group". The Independent. London. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  12. ^ Coulter, Martin (10 October 2017). "Tommy Robinson to give talk at prestigious US university". Evening Standard. Retrieved 12 October 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  13. ^ "Football Lads Alliance leader ignores questions over far right links - Stand Up To Racism". Stand Up To Racism. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  14. ^ Moore, Stephen (21 June 2011). "More football thugs jailed over Spurs clash with West Ham". Tottenham & Wood Green Journal. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  15. ^ "Updated – EDL going nowhere fast, but no room for complacency". Unite Against Fascism. Retrieved 12 October 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
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