England fans "unsettling" Crusader costumes

[Stuka]

Classic Guardian piece which proves it has become the reverse Daily Mail:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... m-crusades

"As a British Muslim, I am unsettled by the sight of England supporters dressed as Christian knights and jovially waving Crusader shields at the European championships in Poland and Ukraine. Footage of last night's cagey opener with France was interspersed with close-ups of young men dressed in the armour of Knights Templar hordes. There's an irony in the fact that images of Polish supporters chanting antisemitic slogans and giving Nazi salutes have been met with such deserved outrage, but to brandish a sword and recall the brutal and bloody invasion of Muslim lands is portrayed as harmless banter."

Obviously a very selective understanding of the Crusades as pointed out in the comments! Leaving aside the fact he totally missed the point. To say the least a bizarre article from somebody perhaps a little too easily "unsettled" to be a football fan, depsite whatever pressures he seems to be under to try and be one.

[Bring Back The SB]

If they don't like it, the know what do do.

Just my opinion.

[watfordroyal]

What did he think the St Georges cross symbolised? Have we got to change our flag to protect his sensitivities?

In England, he is surrounded by Christian symbols because this is a (psudo-)Christian country, what sportswear does use? what car does he drive?, what trainers does he wear? what phone does he use?

[Wax Jacket]

St George isn't even a particularly Christian figure either as Wiki says he's identified as a heroic figure in Islam too

[Maguire]

Don't know what else you expect from the Guardian other than nonsense like that.

I wonder how England supporters would react to scenes at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, were masses of Arab fans to dress up in Saladin turbans and brandish Saracen swords emblazoned with Qu'ranic verse. I'm not sure it would be seen as friendly high jinx.

Pretty sure that's exactly what it'd be seen as m8. Flag of Saudi Arabia has a sword and the shahada written on it - are people offended by the Saudis waving flags? Farking moron.

[Simon's Church]

Typical Manc.

[who are ya?]

As a British Muslim

This offends me

[watfordroyal]

As a British Muslim

This offends me

Think he should call himself an English Muslim,
Don't think any self-respecting Scottish or Welsh Muslim would be supporting England!

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Bore off.

[Starfish]

I saw that article at the weekend - the author gets fairly ripped apart in the comments section. And rightly so - it's an awful piece of writing.

[Ark Royal]

Crusader costumes must be very sensitive gheyers if they are being unsettled by England fans.

fans'

[Zaretsky]

Don't know what else you expect from the Guardian other than nonsense like that.

I wonder how England supporters would react to scenes at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, were masses of Arab fans to dress up in Saladin turbans and brandish Saracen swords emblazoned with Qu'ranic verse. I'm not sure it would be seen as friendly high jinx.

Pretty sure that's exactly what it'd be seen as m8. Flag of Saudi Arabia has a sword and the shahada written on it - are people offended by the Saudis waving flags? Farking moron.

TBF that sounds like a skillz en masse costume theme. 'though I'd say they might have to come with a bit of extra joie de vivre in place of the requisite 19 cans of Stella for any standard English 'crusader'.

[Ian Royal]

Should the English fans have felt unsettled at the sight of the Swedes in horned helmets and long blonde braides? Afterall the Vikings did rape and pillage much of England and Scotland amongst other places?

whattakunt

[Stuka]

Pretty much nail on the head response.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/35124 ... saders.htm

[Ian Royal]

Pretty much nail on the head response.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/35124 ... saders.htm

Serious smack down there.

[Jerry St Clair]

Pretty much nail on the head response.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/35124 ... saders.htm

The parallel drawn with Swedish fans wandering round in viking helmets is pretty skillz. Though, shirley, he means Danes and Norwegians?

[shadesrwrf]

He makes the completely ridiculous assumption that the average England fan actually realises they are wearing a crusader costume and has the foggiest idea of the symbolism he suggests it invokes,

[royalsroyalsroyals92]

Classic Guardian piece which proves it has become the reverse Daily Mail:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... m-crusades

"As a British Muslim, I am unsettled by the sight of England supporters dressed as Christian knights and jovially waving Crusader shields at the European championships in Poland and Ukraine. Footage of last night's cagey opener with France was interspersed with close-ups of young men dressed in the armour of Knights Templar hordes. There's an irony in the fact that images of Polish supporters chanting antisemitic slogans and giving Nazi salutes have been met with such deserved outrage, but to brandish a sword and recall the brutal and bloody invasion of Muslim lands is portrayed as harmless banter."

Obviously a very selective understanding of the Crusades as pointed out in the comments! Leaving aside the fact he totally missed the point. To say the least a bizarre article from somebody perhaps a little too easily "unsettled" to be a football fan, depsite whatever pressures he seems to be under to try and be one.

Don't like our culture? thats a shame....

[Rex]

Dressing up in a veil and Bhurka might help with ID issues in Qatar should there be open displays of affection.

[Stuka]

So in the next round we play Italy. I don't know about you guys but the thought of seeing guys dressed in plastic Roman Legionaries outfits, having orgies, and wearing sandals is highly evocative of the Roman Conquest and makes me feel uncomfortable. It's a shame as I wish I could be a football fan given the amount of social pressure I'm under but yet again my experience is tainted with 1000's of years old historical icons rendered in cheap fancy dress by pissed up fat men so I'll have to rant about it in the Guardian instead. What's more I'll entirely miss the point of their kitsch outfits and assume they're all a bunch of horrible racists instead of completely harmless guys out on the lash.

Et tu, Brute?