FIFA Could Throw England Fans Out of World Cup Stadiums if Rules Broken

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England fans attending Wednesday's Group L opener against Croatia at the 2026 World Cup have been warned they could be thrown out of the Dallas Stadium in Arlington if they break certain new rules imposed by FIFA.

Despite the match being staged in the USA, where citizens are allowed to carry dangerous weapons provided they have a permit, FIFA has set its sights on regulating fan behaviour with a restrictive code of conduct for World Cup stadiums.

World football's governing body has rules in place to prohibit "banners, flags, apparel or clothing deemed to be offensive, discriminatory or political."

The FA are keen to avoid England fans falling foul of FIFA rules due to the hefty fines that could be handed down. The Mexican Football Association have been hit with fines totalling more than $1 million over homophobic slurs shouted by the country's fans.

FIFA are not keen on the presence of any "offensive language or gestures" at the tournament. This means that a song regularly sung by England fans to express discontent with Prime Minister Kier Starmer could land the FA in hot water and lead to fans being ejected from the ground.

The frequently heard “Keir Starmer’s a w***er” chant has often forced broadcasters to temporarily lower their audio levels in order to drown out the offensive jibe. The chant was also audible during England's final public warm-up match against Costa Rica last week.

Many England fans will also be travelling to Dallas with a St. George's cross flag in order to express pride in their nation. FIFA has no issue with that, but will deny entry to any fan with a flag that honours the war dead, as they feature a silhouette of a soldier holding a rifle.

Fans won't be able to bring larger fans with them at the last minute, either, as FIFA must approve any flag larger than 2m x 1.5m in writing, prior to the tournament.

One England fan who spoke to the Daily Mail expressed their disbelief at the rules in place, arguing: "It's madness!

"I'd imagine if I wanted to go over the road to a Walmart to buy an actual gun there wouldn't be an issue, but I can't go into the stadium with a flag honouring those who gave their lives for our country because it features an image of a soldier holding a rifle!"

After they face Croatia in Dallas, England move to Boston to take on Ghana before their final group game against Panama takes place in New Jersey. The vast majority of fans have parted with thousands of pounds to make the trip to the USA.

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