So, the day's finally arrived. Too bad today's games are kinda crap, though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Also too bad that the racism problems overshadowing the whole tournament are getting worse by the day. Who thought it was a good idea to hold a cosmopolitan football tournament in a country which hates blacks and other ethnic minorities?

I don't know if the people of Poland and Ukraine all hate blacks and other ethnic minorities but I know I really hate generalizations.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01jk...adiums_of_Hate/

I'd say a draw and Russia winning the other one.

+1

Never would have gone that far.

It isn't that easy. You must try and understand the context. I'd tell you about it, but the again, I think politics, even in historical measures, are off limit here. Once we had a politics thread and that ended...well not good at all.

Bottom line is - this Euro made the racial problems in Poland or Ukraine visible - meaning at least something's gonna be done in the near future. If the tournament was held elsewhere, we never would have found out about it, and the situation would have only petrified.

But it's utter nonsense to picture a whole country by the fashion of one television program. Again, England in 1966 wasn't heaven on earth, yet no one blames FIFA for that. IMO it's better to give these countries a chance then just play the cosmopolitan tournament in "ivory towers" and pretend like the world is okay.

Is it? As for as the Ukraine/FIFA/UEFA are concerned, there are no racism problems.

And what can FIFA/UEFA do about it? Condemn the whole country? It's a problem that can be solved by real politics, not wannabe diplomats and politicians of UEFA/FIFA

I am in no way generalising by saying a huge racism culture exists in Eastern Bloc nations. Ukraine, Poland, and a great deal of the other nations in that region have massive prejudicial problems with people of ethnic minorities.

Anyone who thinks these nations aren't populated by a distinct majority of racists is very naive and trying to be too politically correct.

We are, and look what happens. The Dutch squad's black members get monkey sounds during a training session!



imo you cannot deal with racism. It's an issue which will always exist no matter how many footballers hold up red cards against racism. The sheer monkey sounds and hooligan elements have been reduced by sheer force in England, but plenty of black players still experience plenty of hate from morons in the stands.

It's a lot, lot worse in central Europe.

That answer is pretty obvious to me. But it's too late.

I think it's naive to say any country doesn't have racism problems. But the difference isn't whether a country has it or not, it's the quantity. Not sure how these are allowed to host or were given the opportunity.

So we disagree. The quantity will be reduced by education, economic growth and political stability. Isolating does countries won't make a difference at all. Is that your response? Ban those countries and let them rot? That's what the West did after 1945, and that's one focal point which enabled these racial problems.


Not so long ago I remember the Dutch fielding an all-white team, then I remember reading articles about the "black part" of their team (among them Seedorf and Davids) having difficulties with the "white part" which resulted their big fail in 2002. Surely, that has nothing to do with this particular situation; but it's a reminder that Holland isn't also that rosy. Yet no one complained.


Actually, the cases of England and Germany tell me you can deal with racism efficiently.



Distinct majority? Where did that come from?

You're missing the point though.

Both you and I agree (I think?) that there are problems within the football side of these countries. But the people that 'matter' do not feel that way. Why will anything be done if, as they seem to think, there's no problem? They see no problem with the actions of these fans so nothing will be done. Look at Qatar, they've allowed Israeli's, should they qualify, into the country. That's a signal that they are maybe willing to change - something Ukraine inparticular seem to have no intention of doing.

Of course they see the problem, they're just denying it - because 1) they do not have the power to make changes 2) they are not informed enough to pose solutions 3) it's the easier way, to look at the other side 4) they are afraid the truth could hurt even more. Now all I wanna say is - FIFA/UEFA hasn't the real power to do anything other then banning the tournament - and I'm against it, because I don't think it's a majority problem.