Racist attacks top concern for Euro 2012

[Marooned]

The family of a second England soccer star has decided not to travel to the European Championship finals because of fears of racial abuse in host countries Ukraine and Poland.

Relatives of young Arsenal star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have decided to follow Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice about the threat of racism at the tournament later this summer, The (London) Times reported.

The news comes after the brother of fellow Arsenal player Theo Walcott revealed that he and his father would be staying at home next month because of potential "racist attacks" and "confrontations."

England manager Roy Hodgson has already warned that supporters run the risk of "being beaten up" at the tournament in Eastern Europe and could be "subjected to a lot of abuse" if they are not white.

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/eurocup/story/racist-attack-fears-concern-for-alex-oxlade-chamberlain-theo-walcott-england-052412

Makes you wonder why they picked these countries to hold the games.

[Ron Obvious]

1. Racist attacks...

Makes you wonder why they picked these countries to hold the games.

That's a very fair question, also considering the political situation in the Ukraine. As for racist attacks, I don't know how genuine the threat of violence is, but the truth is that Eastern Europe is, for obvious reasons, 25-30 years behind the west in terms of social progress. It was only about that long ago that racist incidents were common in the stands in the Western European leagues and not much longer than that in the US, so we in the west have little reason to feel smug.

Maybe opening up to the eyes of the world will have a beneficial effect. Well, it's a nice thought anyway.