Stadiums of Hate

Europe's biggest football festival is approaching, with concerns about fan safety due to racism, fascism, and anti-Semitism in Poland and Ukraine.
UEFA claims zero tolerance for racism.

Panorama Investigation: A month-long investigation revealed routine abuse of black players and fans in Polish and Ukrainian stadiums.
- Examples of abuse include monkey chants and other racist insults.
- Fascist salutes are common in the terraces.
- Fans are beaten based on their skin color.
Families of Black England players are not planning to attend the event due to safety concerns.
Former England captain advises families to stay home and watch the tournament on TV rather than risk attending.

UEFA aims to create a united European football family.
Eastern Europe offers passionate fans, stadiums, and spectacle but also a history of violence and racism.

Wodz Derby (LKS vs. Witsie):
- Visiting fans were banned.
- LKS fans clashed with police before the match.
- Fans were throwing stones and firecrackers.
- Antisemitic chants were directed at the opposing team.
Ultras:
- Hardcore supporters who create noise and atmosphere.
- They are known for abusing the opposition.
- Antisemitic Chants: "Jew" used as an insult against opposing fans and clubs.

In Wodz, Nazis exterminated 230,000 Jews during World War II.
The word "Jew" is now used to signify someone deserving defeat or death.
Example of graffiti: "Jews to the gas".
Jonathan Ornstein: Football hooligans haven't caught up with the rest of Polish society in accepting other faiths.

Warsaw is a host city for Euro 2012, hosting the opening ceremony.
Legia Warsaw:
- The team has a large following but also a history of racism.
- Graffiti near the train station says, "Welcome to hell."
- The White Legion, a violent group organized around football, is celebrated.
- Racist graffiti includes the Celtic Cross (a white power symbol).
Jacek Pursky: UEFA financially supports his work to monitor and combat racism among fans.
- Displaying hate symbols is illegal under Polish law.
- He recalls racist banners praising white pride and monkey sounds directed at black players.

Black players are subjected to monkey sounds and racist insults during matches.
Reporting such incidents to the referee is often ineffective.
UEFA funded report: Between 2002 and 2010, there were 33 serious hate crimes inside Polish stadiums.

Krakow is home to the England squad during Euro 2012.
Krakow Derby (Vissois vs. Krakowia):
- Also known as the Holy War.
- Vissouard fans wore anti-Semitic t-shirts.
- Fans chant that Krakowia is a "Jewish club" and Vissois is a "Polish club."
- The match involved fireworks, missiles, and violence.
- Opposition hooligans attacked stewards and police.
Nick Lulz (Hope Not Hate): Concerns about the safety of black and Asian fans outside the stadium.

Saul Campbell (former England captain) watched footage of racism in Poland.
He found the level of organized anti-Semitism and chants of killing Jews sickening.
He acknowledged that racism existed in England but not to the same extent.

Kyiv is the capital and host city for the Euro 2012 finals.
Racism exists in Ukrainian football.
Kapati Lviv vs. Arsenal Kiev:
- UEFA claims zero tolerance for racism.
- Fans displayed intolerance towards anyone not white.
- A relative of a black player responded to the abuse.
- Police and stewards did nothing.

Kharkiv is Ukraine's second city and a Euro 2012 host.
At the Metalist Stadium, many fans were seen doing Nazi salutes and shouting "Zig Heil"
Fans confirm that they are saying "Zig Heil" because Hitler hated Jews and blacks.
Police deny witnessing any racist displays at the stadium, claiming fans were simply pointing.

Vadim: A football fanatic and member of a far-right organization, Patriot of Ukraine.
The bar where he meets has Celtic crosses, swastikas, and white power symbols.
Vadim recruits from football terraces.
Patriot of Ukraine: A group that claims to round up illegal immigrants.
- Their motto is "One race, one nation, one fatherland."
- They conduct military training.

Patriots train football hooligans for organized violence, including knife battles.
British government advises black and Asian fans to take extra care in Ukraine due to potential racist violence.
Patriots deny condoning attacks on foreigners, but some recruits suggest otherwise.
There have been stabbings of Nigerian students in Kharkiv.

UEFA is funding inclusivity zones to provide safe areas for supporters of all backgrounds.
UEFA claims zero tolerance for racism and states that referees can stop matches if racist incidents occur.
UEFA believes Euro 2012 provides an opportunity to address and confront societal issues.

At the final game of the season at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, violence erupted.
There was no segregation in the stadium, leading to scuffles between rival fans.
Metalist hooligans attacked a group of Asian supporters in the family section.
No police intervention was seen.
Indian students were trapped and attacked for their race.
The Ukrainian FA was unable to confirm if any action had been taken regarding this.

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UEFA states that Ukrainians will have primary responsibility for fans' safety during Euro 2012.

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Saul Campbell believes UEFA was wrong to choose Poland and Ukraine, suggesting that they should have demanded improvements before awarding the tournament.

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He advises families not to risk traveling to Euro 2012, suggesting they could "end up coming back in a coffin."

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UEFA hopes that Euro 2012 will help address racism in Poland and Ukraine.

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For this to occur, UEFA will need to ensure that their zero-tolerance approach to racism is more than just a slogan.