Top

Searchlight

Fighting against racism and fascism

Football club condemns nazi salutes and SS banner

by

Raith Rovers ultras with SS banner
Raith Rovers ultras with SS banner

Masked football ‘ultras’ in Kirkcaldy sparked outrage after posing with nazi salutes and an SS flag.

Around 40 masked men, styling themselves as “Raith Rovers Ultras,” were photographed outside Kirkcaldy Townhouse on Saturday, giving Nazi salutes and brandishing a flag emblazoned with the SS insignia.

No connection

The image, widely circulated on social media, was met with swift condemnation. Raith Rovers Football Club distanced itself entirely, saying they believe the group does not attend matches and has no connection to the club.

Officials pledged full cooperation with Police Scotland and reaffirmed their commitment to anti-racism campaigns such as Show Racism the Red Card.

Abhorrent

Local MP Melanie Ward described the incident as “abhorrent,” reminding residents that Kirkcaldy’s war memorial records the sacrifices of hundreds who fought against fascism.

“The Nazis were responsible for devastation across Europe and the SS organised the Holocaust, one of humanity’s darkest chapters,” she said, adding that many in the community felt “scared, disgusted, and ashamed”.

Police have so far charged a 16-year-old boy in connection with the incident.

Today's Top Ten most popular reads

What people are saying about Searchlight

Nick Davies

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow
In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.
Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak
The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.
Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary

Most popular reads of 2025