Report: Irons youth coach in march controversy

West Ham youth coach Mark Phillips may find himself under pressure after joining a march organised by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance – a group condemned by anti-racism campaigners.

Phillips could face some awkward questions when his his support for the DFLA was brought to the attention of Kick It Out, football’s anti-discrimination charity.

The Guardian reports: ‘Phillips posted on Twitter about attending the DFLA’s march through central London last Saturday and defended the right-wing organisation in subsequent tweets.’

And writer Jacob Steinberg reveals: ‘The DFLA, a group formed of mainly middle-aged, white male football fans had planned a mass march from Park Lane to Whitehall. Organisers said on Facebook that they were protesting against “returning jihadists”, “thousands of Awol migrants”, “rape gangs and groomers” and “veterans treated like traitors”. The demonstration descended into violence when anti-racist protesters attempted to block the DFLA’s route.

‘Although there is no suggestion that Phillips was involved in any of the disturbances, his future at West Ham could be under threat given that the DFLA has been accused of spreading Islamophobia and of having links with far-right organisations.

Kick It Out contacted the London Stadium club on Monday afternoon after receiving a report from an anonymous complainant and is monitoring the situation closely.

A spokesman for KIO told the Guardian: “We can confirm we’ve received a report about a West Ham coach claiming to have attended the DFLA rally in London at the weekend. We have passed it on to the club and are liaising with them about the issue.”

Phillips wrote on Twitter“Good turnout as usual from the West Ham fans today in W1,” Always the biggest [party emoticon]. Fair due to Millwall as well good show south London.”

The Guardian continues:  ‘Phillips later told another Twitter user that the disturbances during the march were sparked by protesters who confronted DFLA supporters and said it was “fake news” to label the group a far-right organisation. The DFLA was set up in the wake of the London Bridge terror attack in 2017 and has called itself an anti-extremist group. It has received support from Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the English Defence League.

Responding to a witness who said he was at the march, Phillips said: “I was too. The football fans were sticking to the agreed route and Antifa chose to confront the march. They had there face covered up. We didn’t. Ask yourself honestly who instigated the trouble??”

Phillips mounted a defence of the DFLA’s actions and said he left the march at Embankment: “The police made a mistake by walking the peaceful football fans march into the aggressive Antifa group and not the other way round. Ask the police on duty for the truth,” he said.

“Who said they were far right? Not true. Football fans yes. Far right. Fake news. Admittedly there was a lot of EX football hooligans there. But their behaviour was non aggressive until ambushed by people hell bent on causing trouble. No matter how people look it’s there behaviour that counts. Ask your ex colleagues the truth.

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon