England ‘football hooligan’ previously arrested for wearing Nazi symbol

A suspected football hooligan accused of being involved in an attack on Serbian fans on the streets of Gelsenkirchen was previously arrested in Germany for having a Nazi symbol painted on his body.

Gordon Thomas, 39, who now faces being banned from matches, was previously held by police in 2006 over an SS symbol painted on his back as he watched the England World Cup game against Paraguay.

He was fined €50 and later released but subsequently won £750 compensation regarding the time he was held by British police and a judge said that he had been unaware the symbol had been painted on him at the time.

Following his latest trip to Germany, he was detained at Manchester Airport on Monday evening under the Football Spectators Act 1989 after he returned to the UK.

Mr Thomas, of Bolton, appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday accused of being part of the violence in Gelsenkirchen ahead of Sunday’s 1-0 win against Serbia, which was classified as high risk by local police owing to concerns about potential trouble.

‘I do not know what I am supposed to have done’

Violence erupted on Sunday afternoon when English hooligans rushed Serbian fans sitting outside the Hirt steakhouse and started a fight between more than 100 people.

Laura Peers, prosecuting, told the court that police were now seeking a football banning order against Mr Thomas.

“This is not a criminal matter, it’s a complaint by police to impose a football banning order because they say they can provide evidence that you caused or contributed to violence or disorder,” she said.

Mr Thomas, who represented himself, told the court that he’d been served with court papers on arrival at Manchester Airport but hadn’t been made aware of the evidence against him.

“I do not know what it is I am supposed to have done,” he said.

District judge Joanne Hirst adjourned the case so MrThomas could seek legal advice but she warned him that it was a “serious” matter that could lead to him being banned from football matches for three years.

She handed him conditional bail which means he is not allowed to travel outside England or Wales before his next court appearance on August 23.

The court heard that Mr Thomas’ passport had already been seized by police.

Trouble had flared outside a restaurant in Gelsenkirchen and video on social media showed tables, chairs and bottles being thrown before riot officers arrived.

German police said a group of Serbian fans were eating inside when a large group of England fans tried to get in. Eight people were detained and one fan was taken to hospital with a head injury.

‘It was a silly prank I knew nothing about’

Mr Thomas was previously held by German police for four hours after he and a friend were arrested in Frankfurt in June 2006. When he returned to Leeds-Bradford Airport two days later, police detained him and he was held in a prison cell for 16 hours before appearing before a Leeds court.

That court decided not to ban him from attending football matches and took no further action against him and he was paid £750 in compensation after a judge ruled that he was held unlawfully.

At the time he claimed British police were “heavy handed” and told the Bolton News: “The German police had the right approach in giving us a slap on the wrist and letting us go, but when we got back to the airport in England, there were dozens of police waiting for us as if we’d committed a murder.

“It was a silly prank that I knew nothing about until I was arrested and I thought we’d been punished enough in Germany.”

He was arrested alongside a friend after police spotted the symbols as they watched the England match against Paraguay in Frankfurt’s main square.

His friend who had a Swastika, which is banned in Germany, on his shoulder and an SS symbol on his back, was banned from attending football matches for 25 months by the Leeds court.

Mr Thomas had an SS symbol painted on his back, but a district judge at Leeds ruled that he could not have known it was there.

‘There are consequences for those causing disorder’

Police are still investigating Sunday’s disorder. The United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) said an investigation team would review footage of the incident and “if any UK nationals have been involved, football banning orders will be sought”.

Mick Johnson, head of the UKFPU, has now confirmed that a fan from the UK has been detained.

He said in a statement: “This action shows the breadth of the Euro 2024 football policing operation and demonstrates there are consequences for supporters who are intent on causing disorder.

“Any UK football supporter causing disorder in Germany which would be deemed an offence in this country could face police action upon their return.

“We are working with the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts, and where appropriate we will seek football banning orders to prevent perpetrators from attending future games both internationally and domestically.

“German police will also take action against those who break the law, and this can include heavy fines and custodial sentences. We are working closely with our policing colleagues in Germany and have a team of UK officers deployed overseas supporting their operation.

“We want fans who are travelling to Germany to have a good time, but please remember to drink responsibly, respect the local culture and don’t put yourself in danger.”