Football Lads Alliance

Football Lads Alliance
Formation 4 June 2017 (2017-06-04)
Founder John Meighan
Type Campaign group
10912702
Headquarters London, UK
Key people
 John Meighan
(Leader until 16 April 2018)
Website footballladsalliance.co.uk

The Football Lads Alliance (FLA) is a movement in the United Kingdom founded by John Meighan in 2017. According to The Times, "the movement was set up as a self-proclaimed 'anti-extremist' movement" but has more and more become associated with far-right politics and far-right activists.[1][2]

The Premier League has warned clubs that "the group is using fans and stadiums to push an anti-Muslim agenda".[1] Concern has also been expressed that the Alliance is "giving cover to the far right"[3] and "uses a secret Facebook page full of violent, racist and misogynistic posts".[4]

History

Following a number of terror attacks in the UK, including the Westminster Bridge attack (22 March 2017) and the bombing of Manchester Arena (22 May 2017), a group of Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) supporters organised a march in London, June 2017 against extremism,[5] led by Spurs supporter John Meighan.[6]

The FLA was registered as a private company in August 2017.[7] A store was opened online selling t-shirts, hoodies and caps.

The second FLA march was in October 2017, present were members "Veterans Against Terrorism" (VAT), an advocacy group made up of claimed military veterans which opposes what it describes as "Islamist extremists".[8] The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) monitored the FLA’s social media posts as part of their ongoing research into extremist movements and tactics online. It reported that, in less than a year, the FLA has moved to the right.[2]

FLA organized a campaign selling pin badges featuring the poppy symbol of the Royal British Legion donating sums collected to the Legion. The charity however returned a £1,104 donation back to the FLA on 11 April 2018 saying that, "a small number of FLA supporters have expressed views and opinions that are not compatible with the values of The Royal British Legion."[2]

FLA founder Meighan stood down on 16 April 2018 saying that the company would be dissolved.[2]

An FLA march was held on 19 May 2018 to mark the first anniversary of Manchester Arena bombing with around 200 attending. An opposition rally was organized with around 800 with speakers from anti-racist and anti-fascist movements, local councillors and trade union bodies.[9]

Split

Logo of the Democratic Football Lads Alliance or the "true" FLA.[6]

The organisation split over certain issues, with some senior activists setting up the Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA or the "Democratic FLA" or "true FLA").[2][10] It has adopted the slogan "Against All Extremism". The march organiser for the DFLA is Phillip Hickin.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 Times Investigation (30 March 2018). "Premier League clubs warned over 'far-right' Football Lads Alliance". Times Online. Times Newspapers. (subscription required)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Bryant, Ben; Frymorgen, Tomasz (9 May 2018). "Football Lads Alliance: 'We could have a civil war in this country'". BBC Three. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "Inside the Football Lads Alliance march through London". The Independent. ESL Media. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  4. ↑ Wall, Tom (17 March 2018). "Secret Facebook page reveals violence at heart of forum for 'football fans'". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Keoghan, Jim (31 August 2018). "The far-right is attempting to return to football. These are the fans fighting it". New Statesman. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  6. 1 2 Poulter, James; Childs, Simon (23 March 2018). "Are the Football Lads Alliance another far-right street movement?". Vice. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  7. ↑ "Football Lads Alliance Ltd". companycheck.co.uk. Company Check. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  8. ↑ Hill, Laura (16 February 2018). "Veterans Against Terrorism march in Newcastle: Charities distance themselves as organiser speaks". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle: Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 27 May 2018. Antony Harrison, one of the organisers behind the Veterans Against Terrorism group... insisted the group isn’t linked to any right-wing organisations - especially the EDL - and the only other movement it works with is the Football Lads Association.
  9. ↑ Staff writer (15 May 2018). "Hundreds of Stand Up To Racism campaigners oppose FLA rally in Manchester". Salford Star. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Richards, Andy (18 March 2018). "Pub bombings campaigner to speak at huge football supporter demo in Birmingham". Birmingham Mail. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 30 May 2018. The True Democratic Football Lads Alliance has split from the Football Lads Alliance
  11. ↑ Socialist Worker journalists (24 March 2018). "Update - The FLA shows its true colours in Birmingham - racist and bigoted". Socialist Worker. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
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