"The reason for all the flags is this is World Cup (soccer) season, and it seems really, really wierd that a chain of bars would ban team colors during such a time. Especially on "behalf" of a religion whose saner leaders have said they aren't offended and who don't even drink."
They haven't banned them during 'such a time', the pub chain in question has had a ban on customers wearing any football shirts for two years (as is stated in the original story, but you wouldn't have found out from the shoddily written story linked in the OP). That is not specific to the England national shirt, has nothing to do with muslims, and isn't particularly uncommon amongst city centre pubs.
Unfortunately the majority of respondents on this thread are only too willing to jump on the usual Brit-bashing bandwagon. Hey, come over to visit and you might see that, with the kick off of the World Cup less than a week away, the Cross of St George can be seen literally everywhere.
They haven't banned them during 'such a time', the pub chain in question has had a ban on customers wearing any football shirts for two years (as is stated in the original story, but you wouldn't have found out from the shoddily written story linked in the OP). That is not specific to the England national shirt, has nothing to do with muslims, and isn't particularly uncommon amongst city centre pubs.That makes more sense, though I will say that if a bar in Cleveland banned all football shirts, including Browns gear, they would likely end up out of business rather quickly.
-Eric