‘Unfair’ say organisers

Euro 2012 organisers have invited former England football captain Sol Campbell to come to the tournament, after he warned fans to stay away due to fears of racist attacks and violence in co-hosts Poland and Ukraine. History byte

Updated on: May 30, 2012, 01:09:19 IST

Agencies | By HT Correspondent, Kiev

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Euro 2012 organisers have invited former England football captain Sol Campbell to come to the tournament, after he warned fans to stay away due to fears of racist attacks and violence in co-hosts Poland and Ukraine.

“Dear Sol, feel invited — feel like at home. In Poland, at our common Euro 2012. Get to know us as we really are,” organisers PL.2012 said in statement on Tuesday. The foreign ministries of Denmark and France have also warned fans about the risk of racist attacks.

PL.2012, however, termed the warnings “unjust” and said they had “nothing to do with reality”.

“The problem of stadium pathologies, such as xenophobia or racism, is a problem specific to the whole of Europe and not only to Poland,” they added.

In an apparent bid to pre-empt football-related violence, police in Poland on Monday arrested 42 people — including prominent members of football hooligan gangs — suspected of drug trafficking and extortion.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said: "Nobody who comes to Poland will be in any danger because of his race."

"This is not our custom, as is not pointing out similar incidents in other countries,” he added.

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