German police warn England fans over ’10 bombers’ chant: ‘Don’t be a d—‘

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1. German police have told any England fan thinking of singing ‘10 German Bombers’ at this summer’s European Championship: “Don’t be a d—.”

   Three Lions supporters have refused to stop performing the song – which mocks German casualties during the Second World War to the tune of ‘Ten Green Bottles’ – despite facing being banned from the team’s matches if caught doing so.

   Footage emerged on Monday of it being sung during England’s Euro 2024 warm-up win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park, compounding fears it could provide a shameful soundtrack to their finals campaign in Germany.

   That begins next Sunday against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, the chief of police of which, Peter Both, has admitted his officers would be powerless to take action against supporters merely for singing it.

   However, speaking amid the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Both cited a recent “campaign in England” by the Football Supporters’ Association that urged Three Lions fans: “Please don’t be a d—.”

   He told Telegraph Sport: “That’s what I would say to them: Don’t be a d—. If they sing a song like this, I can’t change it. It’s not punishable in Germany.

   “I hope that all the other peaceful and law-abiding fans say to them: ‘Stop it.’”

   He added: “I know, and all people in Germany know, there is a long-lasting sporting rivalry between England and Germany. But it’s important for me to say it’s only a sporting one.

   “Our countries have been, and remain, allies for over seven decades.”

   Both did warn that anyone caught performing a Nazi salute – which is a criminal offence in Germany – would be arrested.

   “If we talk about showing the Hitler salute, it’s absolutely unbearable and intolerable,” he said. “We have to tell them it’s punishable and criminal in Germany.”

   Members of the England Supporters Travel Club caught singing ‘Ten German Bombers’ have faced being banned from future matches since 2017, when it was sung during the team’s friendly in Germany.

   That was despite England manager Gareth Southgate condemning the song beforehand, saying: “It’s unacceptable, completely unacceptable.

   “We’ve moved on from those times, or should have moved on from those times. They don’t represent us as a team, the people who do that.”

   The subsequent chanting was denounced by the former chairman of the Bomber Command Association, Malcolm White, a veteran of conflicts in the Falklands, Belize and the former Yugoslavia.

   White, who spent half of his Royal Air Force career in Germany, said at the time: “We just don’t need this sort of stuff. I just don’t get it, it’s unhelpful, it’s not right.”

   He added: “It’s divisive and it adds nothing to the understanding of the generations that are following us about exactly what went on and why it went on.

   “It saddens me deeply and I don’t see why it should be perpetuated, frankly. I don’t know what the culture is that enables some of the folk who turn up to watch football to be acting that way.

   “It’s very unhelpful when you get into jingoistic-type comments. Maybe the football audience could be slightly more thoughtful.”

2. English football fans are probably one of the dumbest groups in European football. 

3. British fans could just sing ’10 russian bombers’ instead. Alot of germans would sing along.

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5. Don’t be a what? A door? A doof?

6. Unfortunately this probably just means they’ll be more likely to do it.

7. What is the context? Why do other countries have no problem with England singing the song

8. We’re all friends now. All in the market together, all differences forgotten, and no need at all to mention the war.

9. How meatheaded do you have to be to chant that on a football match of all places?

10. I really don’t think this is going to be the chant of the tournament that they need to worry about given what song has been going around!

11. As a German, I couldn’t care less.

12. I understand the sentiment, but totally don’t mind this song as a German.

    Would understand the sentiment more if it were about British bombers over Germany – but it ain’t.

13. Ich will den Engländern ja nicht ganz Dresden in Rechnung stellen.

14. As a German I honestly don’t understand why this song is so problematic. It’s catchy, doesn’t insult someone in particular and shooting down nazi bombers isn’t the worst thing to do.

15. Its part of the culture unfortunately. We’ll sing it loud and proud.

16. I just looked up the lyrics. As a german i couldn’t care less

17. What, for heavens sake is the d word? We’re all grown-ups here why not spell it out?