This might not go down so well in Russia (Picture: Getty)

Don’t take England flags to Russia if you’re heading off to watch the World Cup this summer.

That’s the advice from police, who have warned English football fans not to provoke locals with their actions during the tournament.

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Supporters have been told to remain ‘culturally aware’ and refrain from singing antagonising songs or displaying flags on sensitive memorials.

Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, national lead of football policing, said: ‘We wouldn’t expect people to come across to this country, get drunk and drape flags on the Cenotaph so we need to extend the same courtesy when we go abroad and treat places with due reference.’




He gave examples of the types of past behaviour that would be unacceptable in Russia, including England fans singing songs about Gibraltar in Spain and the war in Germany.

England fans have been told not to place flags on sensitive memorials (Picture: Getty)

England’s first game will take place in the Volgograd Arena, in a patriotic city (Picture: AP)

While most supporters are genuine and law-abiding, Mr Roberts said he has concerned about supporters who may drink too much and become anti-social.

He also reminded fans that there will be thousands of routinely armed Russian officers deployed on match days as part of a tight security operation.

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Mr Roberts said: ‘As you approach the stadiums there is an overwhelming presence and I think the chances of disorder in any of those environments is pretty remote.’

He added: ‘Supporters need to act with respect, they need to be good guests, seek to make friends and not engage in anything that’s antagonistic in its nature and which may provoke what they consider to be a disproportionate response but would actually put themselves at real risk.’

In addition, fans should be aware of the heightened patriotic feeling in places such as Volgograd, which hosts England’s opening game against Tunisia, Mr Roberts said.

As many as 10,000 England fans will travel to Russia, but demand for tickets is lower than at previous international tournaments.

Chief Inspector Joe Stokoe added: ‘People do need to be aware that the levels of policing and military is probably going to be off the scale to what we particularly see in the UK.’