Sol Campbell: Euro 2012 fans will go home in coffins

[darko2k7]

This is worrying - http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4341255/Sol-Campbell-Euro-2012-fans-will-go-home-in-coffins.html

ENGLAND legend Sol Campbell has urged fans not to go to Euro 2012 in Ukraine and Poland unless they want to return in a coffin.

The ex-Arsenal and Spurs star warned they face threats of racism and violence. Campbell, who won 73 caps for the Three Lions and played in a record six tournaments, said: “Stay at home, watch it on TV. Don’t risk it because you could end up coming back in a coffin.”

He blasted European football’s governing body UEFA for letting this summer’s championships take place in the host countries.

Campbell, 37, told BBC1’s Panorama: “They were wrong, because what they should say is that if you want this tournament you sort your problems out.

“Until we see a massive improvement, you are never going to get the tournament.”

Tonight’s programme shows fans in Poland and Ukraine giving Nazi salutes, taunting black players and joining in anti-Semitic chants.

The fear of “possible racist attacks” has led to the families of black England stars Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scrapping plans to attend the tournament.

[Guest MattP]

Ridiculous comments.

South Africa is ten times more dangerous than the Ukraibe for everyone and we were told to embrace that.

The scaremongering over a handful of idiots is quite unbelievable.

[Ashley]

Ridiculous comments.

South Africa is ten times more dangerous than the Ukraibe for everyone and we were told to embrace that.

The scaremongering over a handful of idiots is quite unbelievable.

To be honest I can see the tournament being bad trouble wise. England, Germany, Turkey, Poland & Ukraine. There will be some ugly headlines in both newspapers and tv.

[Ozwin]

A tournaments not a tournament without some patio furniture being lobbed about.

[Guest]

I agree with Sol. A country with such bad racism problems in it's football shouldn't be awarded with a major tournament.

Makes their slogan a about kicking racism out of football a joke.

This tournament COULD take football back 30 years.

[Nick]

The Sun may have embellished slightly what he said ..............

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18192375

Oh and +1 to FIF

[Daggers]

This tournament COULD take football back 30 years.

You mean we're going to make it to an FA Cup Final? Bang on!

[Part Of The Crowd]

Having spoken to my family about this very issue, everyone in Ukraine seems to be really wanting the tournament to do well, bring money into the country and show off to the world about it. Club football there may have a terrible rep, but everyone seems to be wanting it to go well, if there any issues it'll probably be from visiting fans. (I'm Ukrainian, for those wondering).

[Fox92]

To be honest I can see the tournament being bad trouble wise. England, Germany, Turkey, Poland & Ukraine. There will be some ugly headlines in both newspapers and tv.

Germany and Holland are in the same group as well!

[Nick]

Germany and Holland are in the same group as well!

German and Dutch fans are sound.

It's the hardcore English Millwall type brigade - I remember watching Holland V Latvia and wanting to die with embarrassment at the behaviour of English fools in attendance of that game. Not got too much experience of Ukraine Poland or Turkey on a fan level.

[Ashley]

German and Dutch fans are sound.

It's the hardcore English Millwall type brigade - I remember watching Holland V Latvia and wanting to die with embarrassment at the behaviour of English fools in attendance of that game. Not got too much experience of Ukraine Poland or Turkey on a fan level.

Germany have a nasty hooligan eliment as do Turkey and Poland. I'm only going on the Ukraine from what I seen on Sky Sports News.

[leicesterlad1989]

You have bad 'fans' where ever you go and they are only a minority. I'm hoping this is the case in the Ukraine. Arseholes will be arseholes, theres no stopping that but the

fact there is so much evidence to suggest their 'fans' (use the term fans very loosely) have been caught being racist etc and nothing has been done about it, does worry me.

There was even an article in the paper where you could clearly see Ukrainians giving the Nazi salute but the head policeman suggested they we all pointing at the away fans.

So watch out for heavy handed police too...

[Guest]

Having spoken to my family about this very issue, everyone in Ukraine seems to be really wanting the tournament to do well, bring money into the country and show off to the world about it. Club football there may have a terrible rep, but everyone seems to be wanting it to go well, if there any issues it'll probably be from visiting fans. (I'm Ukrainian, for those wondering).

I'm sure the vast majority do. I know quite a few Ukranians (mostly girls) and they are fantastic lovely people.

But we're talking about football here. A subset of a subset.

Even here in France in '98 there were problems.

I hope it all goes swimmingly but I'm not so sure and until a country makes the moves in it's own federation to remove racism it shouldn't be awarded the competition. There are a lot of countries to choose from in Europe who probably deserve it more.

I don't agree with giving it and automatic qualification to two countries either. Ukraine would probably have qualified, Poland pretty unlikely. 1 spot and 1 country is enough.

Can you imagine the championships in "Britain" and England, Wales, Scotland and N.I. being given automatic qualification?

[Frost]

I agree with Sol. A country with such bad racism problems in it's football shouldn't be awarded with a major tournament.

Makes their slogan a about kicking racism out of football a joke.

This tournament COULD take football back 30 years.

Just wait 'til Russia and Qatar then.

Both will be much worse.

[leicesterlad1989]

I'm sure the vast majority do. I know quite a few Ukranians (mostly girls) and they are fantastic lovely people.

But we're talking about football here. A subset of a subset.

Even here in France in '98 there were problems.

I hope it all goes swimmingly but I'm not so sure and until a country makes the moves in it's own federation to remove racism it shouldn't be awarded the competition. There are a lot of countries to choose from in Europe who probably deserve it more.

I don't agree with giving it and automatic qualification to two countries either. Ukraine would probably have qualified, Poland pretty unlikely. 1 spot and 1 country is enough.

Can you imagine the championships in "Britain" and England, Wales, Scotland and N.I. being given automatic qualification?

Well thats what will happen if their bid is successful to hold the 2020 Euro championships. Having said that it will be a 24 team tournament too, so they may have stood a

chance on qualifying anyway.

[Daggers]

Ukraine: The land of prostitutes

[Fox92]

"Well, the Ukraine girls really knock me out"

[Anorak]

Won't be many Turkish there seeing as they didn't qualify.

[Ashley]

Won't be many Turkish there seeing as they didn't qualify.

my bad I thought they did. Regardless it won't be nice this summer. Program on BBC tonight about the potential trouble.

[Bugg]

German and Dutch fans are sound.

I don't think that's entirely true. Cologne fans rioted after relegation only a few weeks ago, and some of the Eastern German teams have been in the news for some of their antics this season (although i'm only going on what I read in WSC)

[BlueSi13]

See that English fans still have their bad reputation despite us being some of the best behaved fans in Europe for quite some time now thanks to the banning orders, tough stewarding and policing etc. Bout time we were given some credit for practically wiping out that element of our support.

The problems encountered in places such as Poland, Turkey, The Netherlands, Italy etc dwarf our own. The Germans aren't saints either believe me on that.

[Father Ted]

Bullshit, absolutely nothing will happen.

There might be a bit of trouble at the actual Ukraine-England match itself but there won't be hooligans walking down the streets with axes looking to kill anybody who isn't Ukraine...

[Guest MattP]

German and Dutch fans are sound.

You want to go to a Hamburg-St Pauli game or Ajax V Feyenoord.

Makes Millwall look like a picnic.

[Guest Bilo]

You want to go to a Hamburg-St Pauli game or Ajax V Feyenoord.

Makes Millwall look like a picnic.

St Pauli v Hansa Rostock makes Millwall v West Ham seem like an over 80s bowls tournament.

This tournament does worry me slightly. Poland and Ukraine both have serious problems with far-right hooligans as do Russia, stick them in the mix with some of the hardcore Germans and Dutch fans and all of a sudden the English fans look fairly harmless.

Will the Ukrainian police be able to cope? By cope I don't mean the typical continental police tactic of twatting the living daylights out of anybody speaking English within a 50 yard radius. Whatever the outcome, you can bet your bollocks Michel Platini will find a way to blame the English.

[Guest MattP]

Not been to a St Pauli Rostock game but the Hamburg lads I know claim it's not as big as its made out to be. Just get a bit if trouble in the ground.

Not much aggro in and around the town whereas in Hamburg it goes off big everywhere....was carnage when I went over.