Explained in plain English

What is a 'riot gear'?

Riot gear is protective clothing and equipment worn by police or security forces to manage large crowds or disturbances. It includes helmets, shields, and body armour to keep officers safe while they disperse groups like the Mexico fans who tried to disrupt the England team's sleep.

Stories that explain this

Mexico fans fail to wake England players with fireworks

Questions this opens up

What is public order policing? Why do police wear helmets? When did riot gear start?

Related explainers

Why do fans do this? What is FIFA's role? What is 'gamesmanship'? Who keeps players safe? What are noise complaints? What are other fan tactics? Are there penalties for this? Is this a new tactic?

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