A group of England fans were prohibited from taking an England flag into the Three Lions' World Cup opener with Croatia due to a FIFA rule banning flags bearing weapons, regardless of context. Barrow fan John Little was shocked to learn that his St George's Cross, decorated with Barrow AFC's crest featuring a submarine, was barred from the Dallas Stadium.
Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham has raised the issue in Parliament, urging FIFA to overturn the ban. She said: "Barrow AFC’s crest is a proud symbol of our town’s identity, history, and achievements. The submarine is not a political statement, it reflects the generations of skilled workers who have built a world-class industry here in Barrow-in-Furness."
Parliamentary Motion and Support
Mrs Scrogham tabled a motion in the House of Commons, co-signed by Labour MPs Paul Foster and Cat Smith. She added: "FIFA’s decision to ban supporters from displaying this emblem at the World Cup is deeply disappointing and misunderstands its true meaning. I am urging FIFA to reconsider, engage with the club and its fans, and adopt a more proportionate approach that respects the cultural and historical significance of community symbols while ensuring football remains welcoming to all."
Barrow AFC's Creative Response
Barrow AFC took drastic action to ensure Mr Little could still pay tribute to his club at the World Cup by temporarily blurring the submarine on their badge. Taking to X, the National League side wrote: "In order to make sure our supporter John Little can represent the Bluebirds over in Boston properly, we'd like to unveil our new *temporary club badge for the duration of the World Cup..." The club also tagged FIFA's official social media channels, asking if the arrow on their badge also had to go, given it is technically a weapon.
England's World Cup Performance
England enjoyed a 4-2 win over Croatia in their World Cup opener, with a brace from Harry Kane and goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford countering strikes from Martin Baturina and Petar Musa. The victory sent Thomas Tuchel's side to the top of Group L standings. Next up for England is a clash with Ghana at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on June 23.
