Who are the DFLA?
The Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA) is a far right group composed of ‘lads’ (football hooligans) from various firms (gangs) across Britain. It emerged from the Football Lads Alliance in 2017. The FLA opposed what they called “Islamic terrorism”; in reality it spreads Islamophobia and racism.
The DFLA is London based but has links with hooligans at various clubs. It has an uneasy relationship with ex English Defence League (EDL) leader ‘Tommy Robinson’ aka Stephen Yaxley Lennon. The DFLA were among the 2018,15,000 strong ‘Free Tommy’ demonstration, albeit in their own capacity.
Felip Dewinter, of the far right Vlaam Belang (VB), spoke at that event. The VB came from Vlaam Bloc, who were formed in part by ex SS sympathisers.
They and Robinson are claiming to be mobilising to ‘Defend the Churchill statue in Whitehall’, this Saturday. However, their target is those demonstrating for Black Lives Matter. The strength and size of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) marches, in solidarity with American BLM movement following George Floyd’s death, has angered the far right. Robinson has issued a furious call out to hooligans for Saturday. Although they claim not to oppose BLM, DFLA thugs were present when BLM supporters were racially abused in Hertfordshire this week.
Violent threats are present actosse the DFLA Facebook wall and some members talk of attacking the Nelson Mandela statue. In this the DFLA mirror the EDLs’ racism, unsurprisingly, as many backed the EDL.
Other Fascists such as Britain First also have BLM in their sights. The DFLA and Robinson are still wary of each other. Some Robinson associates have nearly been attacked by DFLA members at far right demonstrations.
The DFLA’s links with former UKIP leader Gerard Batten complimented those of Tommy Robinson. UKIP’s electoral ambitions, however, collapsed in the wake of the Brexit Party’s rise and anti Fascist opposition. UKIP’s gamble of the street thugs of the DFLA and winning Euro seats failed miserably, as did their work with Robinson.
The DFLA contains known Fascists eg in the North East where numerous ex EDL and ‘infidels’ are part of the group. Ex members of Nazi Terror group Combat 18 are also in the DFLA, this makes a mockery of the DFLA’s claim to be ‘anti racist’. Ex BNP organisers are also Facebook friends with key DFLA members.
The DFLA has viciously targeted figures such as Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott. Journalists such as Owen Jones and Trade Unionists eg the RMT, have been subject to DFLA inspired violence.
The Nazi Chelsea Headhunter hang have links with the DFLA and have attempted to attack anti racists alongside the DFLA. On one occasion DFLA supporters travelled from Scotland to London as part of the Chelsea Headhunters gang.
Football firms from across Britain have been contacted to take part on Saturday. Some though are nervous due to falling foul of the law. As previously the DFLA will be a fractious mix. Inter gang rivalries can bring this out, hence the “no colours” insistence from the DFLA.
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