Do you think Sol Campbell is right?

[sp1814]

He's said that black fans should avoid the Euro 2012 games in Poland and the Ukraine because of rampant racism:

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

Panorama spent a month filming at matches in both the joint host nations and witnessed Nazi salutes from the terraces, black players being taunted with monkey chants, rampant anti-Semitism and a vicious assault on a group of Asian students.

Now...this may be the case, but I remember before the World Cup in South Africa, certain commentators were predicting mass muggings of football fans - and the worst thing that happened were those damn vuvuzelas being blown through every game.

Would racist football 'supporters' put you off travelling to watch your national team play?

[VHG]

It was not that long ago black players in the UK were taunted with racist "monkey" chants and bananas being thrown on to the pitch.

Players like John Barnes and Sol Campbell experienced this in the UK.

Hopefully by players of all nations going to Poland and Ukraine they will start to "learn" as we did.

[shoota]

I sympathise with his point of view but that means these people have won and achieved their goal.
it will take a very brave and dedicated fan to attend after watching this program though.
I would like to see these people identified and visited and taken out of the equation for the duration of the tournament, assuming there is legislation in these countries that would allow that.

[ludwig]

It's obviously up to every individual, but personally I wouldn't go. I wouldn't trust the police or other authorities there to protect me properly.

[ummmm]

Would you risk it for a football match? He's obviously seen more footage than we were shown on the news. The small amount I seen would be enough to keep me away.

[NOX]

I think people need to stand up and be counted and not seen to buckle under the weight of this awful racism. Can you imagine how totally ecstatic these neanderthals will be if the games are avoided by black fans? Don't give these muppets more power than they already have- take it away from them and attend, or nothing changes...

[tonyav]

VHG, 'they will start to learn' , hope your right, but let me tell you that these fans ( I use this term loosely ) are extremely hard core.

[flip_flop]

Unfortunately I think he's right - If I were black I'd avoid going to watch football in these places.

I do understand where shoota is coming from, but I think that would be scant consolation if you were getting your head kicked in at the time.

[d9f1c7]

No, this sort of thing will continue until civilised people make it unnacceptable even to the neathderthals in question. I hope the black fans and players can show these retards that their racism cannot have an effect and ultimately show the world how backward this thinking is. No doubt there are still a few in Britain but fortunately the normal fans have pretty well made this sort of racism rare at games.

[tamborine]

I heard the EE men dont want their women with black men but the EE men can be with black women.

Be careful over there coz they've got lots of big ovens & know how to use 'em.

[Sipowicz]

Why was the World Cup awarded to countries with "rampant racism"?

[Davethedog]

Sol Campbell career is oiver he just want his name in the papers.

The far better point was made a couple of weeks ago by Theo Walcotts family, feeling they had to cancel. I hope all that go travel safe (no matter colour) but I hope the likes of UEFA and FIFA learn a lesson here

[ummmm]

It wasn't Sol Campbell that made the documentary.

[Sipowicz]

Tamborine, what does EE stand for?

[shoota]

Many of them are now over here, did they bring their attitude with them?

[Sqad]

I am afraid that I feel that Sol, is correct,as if i were "black" or Jewish, I would not travel to the Euro championships.

From my understanding, purely anecdotal you understand, there is still an anti black and anti Semitic feeling by certain people in certain parts of Europe.

[tamborine]

Eastern Europeans

[sp1814]

The problem is - its all very good 'making a stand', but who's going to pat you on the back when you ARE attacked? There are those who would say - "Well, you WERE warned..."

[albaqwerty]

I don't understand why the Euro's were awarded to these countries. All we can hope for is some good to come out of it but I don't think it'llhappen.

English/British clubs were prevented years ago from playing in Europe so am at a loss to understand this reasoning.

[tamborine]

dont get the black power confused with nazi salute

http://en.wikipedia.o...cs_Black_Power_salute

[ludwig]

It's not the fan's job to help educate racist cretins, or drag backward societies into the 21st century by subjecting themselves to abuse and danger.
The tournament shouldn't have been held there in the first place.

Countries with these kind of problems should be shunned and excluded from participation like England was in the seventies because of hooliganism.