England St George's flag faces World Cup ban as households risk £2,500 fine
The World Cup is just around the corner but some fans could be in for a shock.
England fans face having their St George’s flags taken off them at this summer’s World Cup because of a controversial FIFA policy. England flags plastered around stadiums have become one of the sights of major tournaments in recent years, with the 2026 World Cup likely to be no different.
However, for fans travelling to North America for the tournament, there are a strict set of guidelines that must be followed. That’s because FIFA rules state that any flags that are draped across advertising hoardings must be removed.
Companies have paid big bucks to have their brand names on hoardings inside the stadium, with executives keen to ensure nothing is denying visibility. That includes flags, despite how iconic the photos of terraces decked out in the St George’s Cross have become.
That’s not all though, as flags or banners which exceed 2mX1m are also banned, unless they’ve been approved by a website portal in advance. Meanwhile, music instruments aren’t allowed to exceed 4.7inches, which could prove a problem for the famous England band.
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It isn’t just in the States where fans are being told how they can fly their flags, with Brits at home having to adhere to a set of rules. If you decide to fly the St George’s Cross - or any flag for that matter - from a flagpole, make sure it doesn’t exceed two metres in squared size.
Whereas, consent is required if you live in a controlled area, too, such as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Those failing to comply with the rules could be reported and, ultimately, fined up to £2,500 for refusing to obey requests from your local council to remove an oversized flag.
The government says: “Two flags on the same flagpole projecting from any part of a building are permitted provided one of the flags is from category (a) (flags which do not need consent) such as a national flag and that flag is flown in the superior position.
“Otherwise, only one flag on a projecting flagpole on a building is permitted. The flag may not exceed 2 square metres in size.”
Before adding: “The flag may not exceed 2 square metres in size. No restrictions on the size of characters. Consent is required if the flagpole is in a controlled area.”
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While the law states: The law states: “A person displaying an advertisement in contravention of these regulations shall be liable, on summary conviction of an offence under section 224(3) of the Act, to a fine of an amount not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale and, in the case of a continuing offence, one tenth of level 4 on the standard scale [£2,500] for each day during which the offence continues after conviction.”
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