Hooligan's to spoil the party?

In just over a week's time, Euro 2012 will be kicking off in Warsaw as co-host nation Poland face Greece in the opening fixture. UEFA's hierarchy will be hoping that the match is indeed the only thing that's kicking off in Warsaw that night as those of you who tuned in to the BBC's Panorama: Stadiums of hate documentary will no doubt understand.

For the benefit of those who missed out on the programme, the focus of the documentary was on the ugly side of the Euro 2012 host's domestic matters. Proof was shot on the terraces of Nazi salutes, anti-Semitic chanting and vicious assaults on ethnic minorities. Reporter Chris Rogers spent a month in Poland and the Ukraine attending league matches to get the inside view on what visiting supporters could expect to find at Euro 2012.

First stop on the journey for Chris was Lodz to watch a local derby between LKS Lodz and Widzew, with the added catch that away fans would be banned from attending. Without any opposition, the LKS supporters instead turned on the police launching projectiles and abuse into the face of the local constabulary, a familiar occurrence in Polish football. On the terraces it was no better with songs to the detriment of Jewish people.

In Warsaw, due to begin the tournament, symbols of Legia Warsaw fan's faith to 'White power' are etched onto the walls of the city with an additional 'Welcome to hell' message daubed on the walls of the train stations main platform. In the Ukraine it got even more haunting, with racist abuse of Metalist Kharkiv's black players by their own supporters and a sickening attack on a group of Asian fan's sitting in the home end was enough to turn your stomach.

Police in Kharkiv denied all accusations that their supporters were racist, brushing off the Nazi salutes as simply 'the fan's pointing to attract attention' just a shame it was unwanted attention. Former England defender Sol Campbell, a high profile recipient of racist abuse in his playing days with both club and country was shown the scenes in both countries and summarised with the message 'Don't go, stay at home and watch it on T.V'.



UEFA are in a difficult position, for example, the criticism of choice of venue, is it fair to deprive the host nations of a major tournament on the grounds that a select few clubs let the side down? Spain had the World cup in 1982, a nation famed for the animal torturing sport of Bull fighting and casting back a few years to Englands friendly in Madrid. The sickening 'monkey' chants at black English players yet Madrid and Barcelona continue to be recognised venues for Champions League finals.


Can you pick out a nation without problems of racism or hooliganism? It's hard to say. Fan's were due back in coffin's from the previous World Cup in South Africa yet the only pain felt by supporters was that of the vuvuzela. The documentary has served its purpose in my view, to make fans aware of the potential dangers that lurk in and around the two countries. The key is UEFA's organisation with regard to fan safety and liaison with the police to make sure the tournament passes without incident but until then the fight against hooliganism and racism in football will always continue.