England fans’ World Cup arrest record shows Infantino joke inaccurate

JAN.24 - Maybe Fifa president Gianni Infantino just thought he was making a light-hearted quip.

But it fell flat in England.

Referencing concerns about this year's World Cup in north America and criticism in the build-up to Qatar 2022, Infantino said: "For the first time in history, also, no Brit was arrested during a World Cup."

To laughter at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, he added: "Imagine. This is something really, really special."

Understandably the comments angered the Football Supporters' Association, which accused Infantino of making "cheap jokes" about England fans.

The terminology "Brits" may well have annoyed fans from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland too.

A lot has been done to try to repair England's name at major tournaments after it hit one of its lowest points on the international stage at Euro 2000. That was after a long history of hooliganism.

So what do the World Cup statistics show? Was the lack of arrests in Qatar unusual? Was this how England fans are still seen internationally or just a low blow?. - BBC