Sol Campbell has spoken out about the threat of rascist abuse in Poland and Ukraine for the Euros.
He’s worried that England fans might ‘come home in a coffin’, and he could be right. Poland and Ukraine are two countries that have always had issues with their footballing community. These issues have caused the families of Theo Walcott, Joleon Lescott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to boycott the tournament.
This is wrong, why should the proud families of these players be scared away from supporting their sons as they pull on the Three Lions football shirt? It could be the greatest moments of their career, England could finally win one of the game’s prestigious football trophies. The families want to see their sons win medals and they have to experience it under the grotesque shadow of racism.
It was irresponsible for UEFA to award the tournament to countries that are still developing, both in society and the footballing world. Football’s governing body should never have awarded a European championship – one in which many players of different ethnicities compete – to two countries that have violent racism problems.
It’s even prompted the Foreign Office to put a warning on their website for travellers of Asian and Afro-Caribbean descent and individuals belonging to religious minorities to take extra care. It’s nonsensical to think that when there were so many alternatives, including Italy and a bid from Hungary/Croatia, UEFA awarded it to Poland/Ukraine.
Sol Campbell thinks that if they were going to award the tournament to Poland/Ukraine, it should have been done conditionally, under the terms that they sort out the racism and hooliganism. Not a bad idea, but what if they didn’t? Expect Italy to prepare with less than a year to go?
In response to Campbell’s allegations UEFA have stated: “Our [UEFA’s] zero-tolerance to racism is still valid both on and off the pitch… the referee has the power to stop or abandon a match should racist incidents occur”. That’s all well and good, but what about the hundreds of thousands of fans? They’re not going to have the sanctity of referee kits or football kits.
Sol’s right – stay at home. TV coverage will probably be better anyway.
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