ENGLAND fans could be turned away from Wetherspoons during the World Cup if they are wearing football shirts.

The pub chain has said managers can kick punters out for wearing their colours and it has also banned staff from putting up England flags.

4 England fans wearing football shirts could be kicked out of Wetherspoons during the World Cup Credit: Getty Images

JD Wetherspoons today said they do not have a blanket ban on shirts, but it will "support" managers if they decide to refuse to serve fans wearing kits.

Bosses also told its employees they must not display the St George’s Cross in any of their 880 pubs.

Instead, they have handed out “World Cup bunting” which includes every flag of each nation competing in the tournament.

One barman slammed the decision to ban England flags and described it as an “absolute joke”.

4 JD Wetherspoons has banned its staff from displaying the England flag Credit: Reuters

The employee, from Worcester, wrote online: “Absolute joke that we have to take our England flags down at work. We are an English pub chain.”

A spokesman told The Sun Online: “We have no specific issue with football shirts. But if a manager for whatever reason feels it doesn’t fit in with his or her pub, they have the discretion to say no.

"We will support them and back them."

He added: "We have given all of our 880 pubs World Cup bunting which includes the St George’s Cross.

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4 The pub chain has said that managers must only put up the bunting they have been given Credit: Alamy

“What we don’t want is staff putting up England flags at the bar or in the window. That’s not how we run our pubs.

“They can put them up in the staff room if the manager is happy.”

England play their first group game against Tuninia at 7pm on Monday.

During the 2014 World Cup, 20 England fans were kicked out of a Wetherspoons pub in North London before the Italy match because they were wearing shirts.

4 Some taxi drivers have been told they cannot display England flags Credit: Getty - Contributor

A Wetherspoons spokesman said at the time: “The management team at the pub made the decision to ban football tops for the England v Italy game. The company fully backs the decision.”

England fan Rob Green, from Romford, Essex, said: “Only in England would you not be allowed to watch England wearing an England top.”

It comes after taxi drivers in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, were banned from displaying England flags on their cars over fears it could distract other motorists.

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One local worker at City-Lynx Taxis was furious with the decision and simply argued that “flying flags is showing patriotism”.

Meanwhile, Royal Mail banned its 125,000 posties from displaying England flags and stickers on letter trolleys, bikes, vans and lorries.

One postman in South-West London said: “It’s bonkers, frankly.”