England fans filmed singing offensive songs such as 10 German Bombers face losing their jobs, a leading employment law firm has warned.
Despite being off work, employees who act in an aggressive manner or sing dubious songs and are filmed on the internet face major disciplinary action.
Even though the workers can claim they are on holiday and are not representing their firm while on vacation, if their actions are deemed serious enough and can be linked back to the company they could find themselves unemployed.
Although companies have also been warned that sacking an employee amid a twitter pile on could leave themselves open to an unfair dismissal claim unless robust rules were followed.
England fans have insulted many of their opponents during thee group stages of the European championships, although according to human rights; rules, they could potentially face life imprisonment.
Kate Palmer, who is an expert in employment law and the Employment Services Director at Peninsula, told : ‘It’s an unfortunate fact that large football matches can bring out the worst behaviours in some people. Recent examples in major tournaments include fans racially abusing players, singing offensive chants in Germany, assaulting opposing fans, or throwing bottles at police, to name just a few
‘And who can forget the fan who was splashed across every front page with a flare in a very questionable place!
‘It is not an employer’s job to police what employees do in their own time, and employees do have a right to a private life. But when that private life becomes public, if it can be linked back to the workplace then employers may need to take disciplinary action.’
Fans have been warned to be careful as misbehaviour on their own time might not lead automatically to a dismissal, there could be major consequences to their career.
‘Poor behaviour outside of work does not necessarily mean losing your job but some employers may decide that the connection between work and the employee’s behaviour is too strong, and that continued employment is untenable.
‘Action, including dismissal for something an employee does outside of work can be fair, but this all depends on the reason and the procedure used. It won’t be fair in all circumstances though, so employers need to make sure they are acting within the range of reasonable responses to what has happened.’
According to employment law experts, not misbehaving is a better way of proceeding rather than trying to mitigate the consequences of a drunken indiscretion.
‘This will be different in every case, but key elements to consider are the role that the employee carries out, what they are alleged to have done, and whether they were identifiable at the time – for instance, perhaps they were wearing company uniform when it happened, or maybe they have their workplace listed on their social media profiles for everyone to see.
‘Employers are more likely to bring outside behaviour into question when the employee’s actions bring their integrity in the workplace into question. Others may look to act because continued employment will affect the success of the business or bring it into disrepute. An employee letting their hair down is not likely to make the newspapers; but serious anti-social or illegal behaviour very well might.
‘Clearly, the more public exposure of the incident, the more at risk the business is from reputational damage or other detrimental impact. So whether England fans are celebrating or commiserating when the full time whistle blows on Sunday, consider whether the hangover you’ll feel the next day is worth putting your career at risk.’
England are due to play Slovakia tomorrow night in Gelsenkirchen, the venue where the lost out on penalties to Portugal.
Gareth Southgate’s team have faced heavy criticism for their performances during Euro 2024.
Irish-owned airline Ryanair got in on the heckling, writing in a post to the team on X: ‘That’s enough, let’s get you home.’
The tepid draw launched numerous amusing memes, including a photo of a man sitting facing a brick wall under the words ‘Watching England play football.’
Another showed Southgate planting an England flag at the top of a manure pile, with the words ‘Group C.’
England, who could muster only two goals in three games, enjoyed 70 per cent possession on Tuesday but despite boasting four of the best attackers in European soccer this past season, had just four shots on target.
Many England fans in Cologne beat a hasty exit well before the final whistle, and many of the ones who stayed angrily booed the team off the pitch. A few hurled empty beer cups in Southgate’s direction, which had the manager looking shell-shocked in the post-game press conference.
‘When there’s such a strong association with what the national football team represents in so many ways, and when you don’t have success there’s always going to be a love-hate relationship,’ Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou said during Tuesday night’s television broadcast.
‘Everyone talks about history and the group that win something will leave that behind,’ he added. ‘It is natural to feel hurt when criticism comes your way.’
Former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville said Southgate’s men ‘looked so basic in the first half.’
‘It was a struggle to watch but it moved forward a lot in the second half even though we didn’t get the result but there was glimpses of what we can be,’ he said during the broadcast.
‘England have Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Phil Foden — massive, massive talents and we cannot afford to mismanage them.’
Neville believes the 19-year-old Mainoo will start in Sunday’s last-16 game at midfield in place of Conor Gallagher, who had started on Tuesday in place of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Second-half substitutes Mainoo, Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer were among England’s bright spots on an otherwise dreary night.
Southgate, who guided England to a place in the 2020 Euro final where they lost to Italy in a shootout, said he understands supporters’ frustration and will bear the brunt of the criticism, but made a plea to fans to at least support the players.
‘I understand it. I’m not going to back away from it. The most important thing is the supporters stay with the team,’ Southgate said.
‘I understand the narrative towards me and that’s better for the team than it being towards them. But it is creating an unusual environment to operate in. I’ve not seen any other team qualify and receive similar.’