Published: 31 May 2012
Region: Ukraine & Worldwide
By Pedja Urosevic
Amidst worries of racially aggravated attacks in Poland and Ukraine, two English footballers already decided not to play on Euro 2012, and even though they already bought tickets, some fans from racially diverse backgrounds have decided to watch the European Championship from a pub or at home.
While footballers and fans in England are increasingly worried — as vividly shown in the troubling BBC Panorama report Euro 2012: Stadiums of Hate — the police in Ukraine are not.
When challenged by Panorama’s Chris Roger, who personally witnessed a Nazi salute by crowds in Ukrainian stadiums a Ukrainian policeman explained that what the journalist saw was not a ‘real’ Nazi salute.
“That is not a Nazi salute,” said. Volodymyr Kovrygin from Kharkiv police force. “They were just pointing in the direction of the opponents, to annoy them.”
Meanwhile, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is publishing a warning on its website regarding ‘racially aggravated assaults’ in Ukraine.
“Although the vast majority of visitors experience no difficulties, foreign nationals have been the victims of violent crime in Kyiv and other major cities. In some cases attacks have been racially motivated. Travellers of Asian or Afro-Caribbean descent and individuals belonging to religious minorities should take extra care” it says on the FCO website.
From the website of European football chiefs UEFA we learn that The campaign to eliminate racism and discrimination from football will be given a high-profile platform at UEFA EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.
This may be more in hope than expectation. The signs are that the upcoming championships will be a severe test of European football’s commitment to tolerance, both on and off the pitch. While one British television programme is not enough to prevent Euro 2012 taking place, it has certainly put the spotlight and heat on the hosts and Ukrainians will be anxious to make sure that over the next month racism does no raise its ugly profile during the games.
