Indians attacked by racist soccer fans in Ukraine

[Zostrianos]

A group of Indian students attending a soccer game in Ukraine (and supporting the home team) were attacked by racist hooligans who turned on them simply because they weren't white - the attack was filmed:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18233736

Sol Campbell has told the BBC's Panorama that Euro 2012 should not have been awarded to Poland and Ukraine, due to the racist and violent attitudes of some supporters.
The former England captain advised fans to "stay home, watch it on TV... don't even risk it."
UEFA, European football's governing body, have defended their decision, and said awarding the tournament to the two nations was an opportunity to improve their image and tackle social challenges.
Chris Rogers attended one match in Ukraine where he saw Asian men being kicked and punched, despite supporting the home team.

[NewLeft]

"Police aren't helpful"

[Sir Comradical]

This kind of shit just didn't happen in the Soviet Union.

[Zealot]

I saw this on BBC news last night I was fucking pissed. It's not like it was only a few Nazis causing trouble either, there was a whole damn crowd of them doing Hitler salutes and attacking non-whites.

[Anarcho-Brocialist]

"... In Europe there’s a dangerous growth of ultra xenophobia which is pretty threatening to anyone who remembers the history of Europe… " Noam Chomsky.

It seems we are facing a huge problem, if not have already stumbled upon the problem of bigotry within Europe. The media is giving us a pervasive feeling that the barbarians are at the gates (or walls, as it may be). Their teeming masses, their recklessness, their violence, their strange ways. They are our enemies. Or so it is said.

[brigadista]

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1654295/Sol-Campbell-warns-of-racist-violence-at-Euros


LONDON (Reuters) - Former England international Sol Campbell is warning England fans not to travel to Euro 2012 because of the threat of racism and violence.

Campbell, the former Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur defender who played 73 times for England and appeared at six major tournaments, told the BBC's Panorama programme: "Stay at home, watch it on TV. Don't even risk it ... because you could end up coming back in a coffin."

Campbell's comments, widely reported on the front pages of several British newspapers on Monday, follow announcements from the families of two black England players who said they would not go to the championship.

The brother of midfielder Theo Walcott has tweeted that he and his father would not go because of "possible racist attacks" while the family of his Arsenal team mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have also shelved their plans to watch England.

The BBC documentary, to be aired on Monday in Britain, investigates violence and racism at football matches in the host countries.

It contains footage of fans giving Nazi salutes, taunting black players with monkey noises, anti-Semitic chants and a group of Asian students being attacked at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv which is hosting three group matches.

Last week a programme on Sky TV also highlighted racist and far-right groups plotting and threatening attacks during the three-week long tournament.

Campbell said UEFA should not have allowed Poland and Ukraine to host the competition, which start on June 8.

"I think that they were wrong," he said. "What they should say is that if you want this tournament you sort your problems out.

"Until we see a massive improvement, that you have sorted it out, you are never going to get the tournament. You do not deserve these prestigious tournaments in your country."

Last week UEFA presidet Michel Platini told Reuters he was optimistic that there would be no racism at the matches but agreed he was powerless to prevent it happening himself.

"I believe the tournament will be a great success, and I trust the fans will behave, but we shall see. There are problems at every tournament, always," said the Frenchman.

"We also have problems with hotel prices in Ukraine, and we have raised our serious concerns. We do not want fans to stay away for any reason, and I hope they do not."

In a statement, UEFA said: "Euro 2012 brings the spotlight on the host countries and clearly creates an opportunity to address and confront such societal issues.

"UEFA's zero-tolerance approach to racism is still valid both on and off the pitch and ultimately the referee has the power to stop or abandon a match should racist incidents occur."

[Terminator X]

Platini is such a worthless cockhead. Both his and Sepp Blatter's response to racism is just to turn a blind eye and "wish" it away. Remember Blatter's idiotic remarks a few months ago about how racist incidents on the pitch can be resolved by a "handshake" at the end of the game? It's no wonder that this attitude trickles down throughout FIFA and UEFA. Platini is more worried about hotel prices than a group of fans receiving beatings from Nazi thugs.

I'm almost to the point where I agree with the calls for banned English hooligans to be allowed to travel to Ukraine for Euro 2012 to beat the shit out of these imbeciles.

[Jesus Saves Gretzky Scores]

What is it with soccer and racists?

[Permanent Revolutionary]

What is it with soccer and racists?

I don't think you can blame football for the actions of its fans. If it wasn't football it'd be another sport.
Football just happens to be the most popular sport in Europe, which is why people of all parts of society (including racist dumbfucks) flock to see the games.

[Terminator X]

What is it with soccer and racists?

Racist abuse occurs at almost every stadium around Europe, but there is a large concentration of this behavior in Eastern Europe, where there are pockets of deep nationalistic/racist/far-right sentiment. Hooligans in Serbia, Croatia, Ukraine, etc. use the matches more as a political platform than to actually watch the game. Supporters' groups in these countries also act as a front to nationalist organizations as a way to recruit and propagandize.

Here's a great article on Serbia's right-wing hooligan cults:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1123137,00.html

[aty]

In Ukraine you also have Arsenal Kiev hooligans who are anarchists:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jWkAdRopFAo/Ty6Q-maRTAI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/8N3tMqxZx1A/s1600/x_1721067b.jpg
http://cs879.vkontakte.ru/u20443850/115302176/x_7d5502a5.jpg

[NoPasaran1936]

What is it with soccer and racists?

Unlike in the States, soccer is a working class' man or woman's end of the week social release valve from a hard day's work.

Because it's predominantly working class, it's breeding ground for far right groups to get in, then blame poor conditions on ethnic minorities, and the ultras is a platform and a sign of unity for them.

Hooliganism is just a thing on the side which shows evidence that more needs to be done in society to help give people more safety valves. It was rife in England because of the economic conditions, and those conditions are now mirrored in the Eastern ex-Soviet bloc

[NoPasaran1936]

Racist abuse occurs at almost every stadium around Europe, but there is a large concentration of this behavior in Eastern Europe, where there are pockets of deep nationalistic/racist/far-right sentiment. Hooligans in Serbia, Croatia, Ukraine, etc. use the matches more as a political platform than to actually watch the game. Supporters' groups in these countries also act as a front to nationalist organizations as a way to recruit and propagandize.

Here's a great article on Serbia's right-wing hooligan cults:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1123137,00.html

My club got a mention in that article :D:D:D:D:D

[Goblin]

Shit like this happens all over Europe