ENGLAND football fans had their flag seized by Spanish police after the emblem of their favourite club was confused with a racist symbol.

Friends and former Billericay School pupils Ryan Willsmer and Chris Lipman travelled to Alicante to watch Friday night’s friendly match between Spain and England.

The pair regularly travel abroad to matches and take a St George’s flag, with Billericay written across it, as well as the crossed hammers logo of West Ham United.

Ryan, 28, of Fieldfare, Billericay, said: “We have had the flag for a number of years and took it to the World Cup in Brazil in 2010.

“It has been all over the world and we have never had any problems, so the last place we were expecting to have any issues was Spain.”

They fixed the flag to some railings inside the stadium before kick-off, but when they returned after the match to collect it, the duo discovered it had been removed.

After complaining to stewards, they were told to report to a gate outside the ground.

Chris, 27, said: “On the way there we saw about 12 to 15 other West Ham fans who had all had their flags taken.

“We were talking to the stewards, but they weren’t giving us any answers and by then it had been the best part of half an hour.”

The fans finally received some answers when Football Association chairman Greg Dyke was among a group of England representatives exiting through the gate.

After appealing for help, an FA representative went back inside, when they discovered the flags had been seized because police believed the hammers logo had racist connections.

A Football Association spokesman said: “Spanish officials believed the crossed hammer emblem was a Nazi-style badge.

“We intervened to try to explain there was nothing wrong with the flags.

“At the end of the match when the fans asked for them to be returned the local authorities refused. There was nothing more we could do.”

The fans were told they would have to pay a £3,000 fine for displaying a racist or political banner if they wanted them returned.

Halstead Gazette:

Ryan said: “We were gobsmacked when they mentioned connotations with the Nazis.

“We have lost the flag, but it is not even about the money. It is more about sentimental value because it has gone all over the world with us.”