Blogs » Free Lions / Fans' Embassy
Changing times: England fans in Russia
Tonight the Fans for Diversity campaign and Free Lions are launching an exhibition of work by David Shaw celebrating the England fans' contribution to the World Cup in Russia. Here England fan and tournament veteran Billy Grant tells us about a special summer...
Russia was a funny World Cup for me. As a black football fan, I realized that going to Russia could pose a serious risk to my safety.
But...
Welcome to Samara: don't forget Google translate!
England are on their way to Samara - you can find our guide to the sixth largest city in Russia in Free Lions 161 here and in our England Fans' Guide to Russia. Here Goal.com journalist Nizaar Kinsella, who's been based their for the duration of the tournament, tells us about its charms...
Welcome to Samara England fans! I'm sure you'll have lots of fun in the city that was once closed to the West...
World Cup 2018: The fans just can't win...
It seems that one article in the last edition of Free Lions has caused a bit of a stir.
Our piece headed “It's not too late to join the party” revealed that all that was required to get a Fan ID which allows you to enter Russia was your passport details, an appropriate photograph, and the reference number from a match ticket – ANY match ticket, regardless of whose name is on it, how many other tim...
World Cup 2018: It's not too late to join the party
The prospect of following England into the knock-out stages of the tournament was probably already enticing enough even before our progress was confirmed by an emphatic and stylish 6-1 victory.
So positive have been our experiences as fans in first Volgograd and then Nizhny Novgorod – friendly and welcoming hosts, great weather, a relaxed yet secure atmosphere, first class stadiums, unobtrusive po...
How Russia has confounded expectations
Over the years, regular travellers with England have had good reason to become sceptical about some of the dire warnings about the fate that could befall us at the next tournament.
If all we were told had been true, we would have been murdered in townships in South Africa, beaten up by racist hooligans in Ukraine or robbed at gunpoint in Brazilian favelas. It turns out that a little bit of commo...
Taking a flag to the World Cup?
For fans travelling to this summer's world cup hoping to take their flags into the stadium, the process may not be as straight-forward as you had wished. The local organising committee have published guidance on flags and banners, which are more stringent than at any previous tournament.
Applications must be made in advance for all games, according to the guidance:
"Supporters who wish to bring a...
LGBT+ fans and the 2018 World Cup
As preparations for the World Cup continue, the latest in our series of blogs ahead of the tournament looks at the issues faced by LGBT+ fans who are thinking of heading out to the World Cup in Russia. We have pulled together the following advice and information in partnership with various LGBT+ supporter groups and Stonewall, to ensure fans are aware of the issues they may face at the tournament ...
Getting to Russia - 2018 World Cup Guide
Ahead of the World Cup in Russia this summer your Free Lions team have been feverishly beavering away getting the lowdown on all the potential venues England fans could end up in. In what could be described at best as a tense political climate, it's arguably more important than ever that fans are informed before they follow England to this summer's tournament.
As with previous World Cups we will...
2016: A year in the life of the FSF
A lot has happened on and off the pitch in 2016 - so here's a round-up of some of our work from 2016...
January
We started the year by looking at the draconian coach travel restrictions still faced by football fans. FSF caseworker Amanda Jacks outlined how football fans running commercial coaches have to inform police before travelling, can’t eat and drink when and where they please and have their...
The National Team we deserve?
Must lower league club football be diluted to serve the interests of the national team? Kevin Rye, strategic adviser to football clubs and supporters’ organisations looks at the issue...
Just a few weeks ago now, England were knocked out of another major tournament, and the recriminations commenced. They came, principally, to bury Roy Hodgson, because that’s what the English like to do to their ma...