Concerns and controversies related to UEFA Euro 2012#Criticism of preparations

In January 2008, UEFA President Michel Platini warned the organisers of the need to avoid "critical slippages" in their preparations,{{cite news | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL3018483420080130 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920022646/https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL3018483420080130 | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 September 2020 | title=UEFA warns hosts to speed up Euro 2012 plans |work=Reuters | date=30 January 2008 | first=Mike | last=Collett}} prompting Scotland to volunteer as an alternative host twice.{{cite news |title=Scots eye Euro 2012 rescue plan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7437379.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=5 June 2008 }}{{cite news |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=577794&sec=europe&cc=5901 |title=Scotland ready to be saviours of Euro 2012 |publisher=ESPN |date=1 October 2008 |access-date=13 June 2012 |archive-date=2 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302120538/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=577794&sec=europe&cc=5901 |url-status=dead }} By June 2008, however, UEFA stated they were "not discussing any plan B in terms of new countries" hosting.{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2008-06-12-3901642876_x.htm | title=UEFA seeks rules clarification |work=USA Today | date=12 June 2008}}

Ukraine reported several problems which threatened their ability to co-host, including delays in the renovation of Kyiv's Olympic Stadium,{{cite news | url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINSP34177020080612 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202212540/https://in.reuters.com/article/idINSP34177020080612 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2 December 2020 | title=Ukraine may lose Euro 2012 due to stadium, says official | date=12 June 2008 |work=Reuters }} and difficulties funding infrastructure work due to the 2008 financial crisis.{{cite news | title=Financial crisis threatens Ukraine as Euro 2012 host | url=https://www.tsn.ca/story/?id=254324 | date=31 October 2008 | agency=The Canadian Press }} After an inspection in April 2009, Platini re-affirmed that Ukraine would remain co-host, hinting that most matches could go to Poland.{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-04-16-2568237155_x.htm | title=Platini: Poland's Euro 2012 preparations on track | date=16 April 2009 | work=USA Today |first=Ryan |last=Lucas}} Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that his country would be capable of the task, but was committed to the original plans,{{cite news | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_WORLDFOOTBALL/idUKL938672520090510?sp=true | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107062304/https://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_WORLDFOOTBALL/idUKL938672520090510?sp=true | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 November 2020 | title=Polish venues on track for Euro 2012, Prime Minister says | date=10 May 2009 |work=Reuters}} as was the Polish Football Association (PZPN).{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/europe/2009-05-13-euro-2012-venues_N.htm | title=Four Polish venues while Ukraine gets just one | date=13 May 2009 | work=USA Today}}

In September 2009, Platini announced that "Ukraine has made sudden progress in their efforts to stage the tournament,"{{cite news | url=https://af.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idAFJOE54C0AR20090513 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203140904/http://af.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idAFJOE54C0AR20090513 | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 February 2016 | title=Platini sees sudden progress from Euro co-hosts Ukraine | date=15 September 2009 |work=Reuters }} and it was soon confirmed that their four cities (Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Lviv) would host matches. Kyiv was also confirmed to host the final match.{{cite news | url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=64/newsid=933832.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215010837/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=64/newsid=933832.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=15 December 2009| title=UEFA confirms four host cities in Ukraine | date=12 December 2009 |publisher=UEFA }}

An interview Platini gave to the German Football Association (DFB) in May 2010 suggested that Germany and Hungary could replace Ukraine unless improvements were made, casting new doubt on the nation's readiness.{{cite news |url=http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/176318/germany-and-hungary-could-replace-ukraine-as-euro-2012-host |work=Sport Business |title=Germany and Hungary could replace Ukraine as Euro 2012 host |date=11 May 2010}} By August, however, Platini revisited that and stated, "You can consider that the ultimatum no longer exists,"{{cite news | url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12010_6341956,00.html | title=Platini supports FFF sanctions | date=27 August 2010 | work=Sky Sports}} and that he was optimistic about preparations in both countries and saw no major obstacles.{{cite news | url=http://football.uk.reuters.com/leagues/european/news/2010/08/12/LDE67B1E8.php | title=Ukraine will be ready for Euro 2012 but work to do – UEFA | date=12 August 2010 | work=Reuters | access-date=13 June 2012 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716171957/http://football.uk.reuters.com/leagues/european/news/2010/08/12/LDE67B1E8.php | archive-date=16 July 2012 | url-status=dead }} After a UEFA delegation visited Ukraine in September 2011, he stated the country was "virtually ready for Euro 2012."{{cite news | url=http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/113621/ | title=Platini: Ukraine nearly ready for Euro 2012 | date=27 September 2011 | work=Kyiv Post}}

In September 2008, the Government of Poland suspended the Polish Football Association (PZPN) over corruption issues and assigned an administrator to fight against corruption in football. UEFA swiftly issued a letter warning that it risked losing the right to co-host.{{cite news | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE4906EA20081001 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030053222/https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE4906EA20081001 | url-status=dead | archive-date=30 October 2020 | title=FIFA warns Poland on World Cup suspension |work=Reuters | date=1 October 2008}} Further, FIFA threatened that it would suspend Polish football representation in qualifying matches for the World Cup. In October an agreement was reached that reinstalled PZPN with a new management and monitored by FIFA, UEFA and the Polish Ministry of Sports.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01d2-0f84e80dcc82-ab6996ac16d4-1000--agreement-reached-on-polish-fa-elections/ |title=Agreement reached on Polish FA elections |date=12 October 2008 |publisher=UEFA |access-date=22 August 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.poland2012.net/drzewiecki-was-defeated-by-fifa-and-uefa-by-a-knockout/ |title=Drzewiecki was defeated by FIFA and UEFA by a knockout |publisher=Poland2012.net |date=1 July 2012 |accessdate=22 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20110707144450/http://www.poland2012.net/drzewiecki-was-defeated-by-fifa-and-uefa-by-a-knockout/ |archivedate=7 July 2011}}

Following Yulia Tymoshenko's hunger strike which started on 20 April 2012 and her mistreatment in a Ukrainian prison, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, the Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding, and Androulla Vassiliou. the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, announced they would boycott the tournament in Ukraine.{{cite news |first=Andriy |last=Kravets |title=Tymoshenko case: Europe pressure on Ukraine intensifies |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17892514 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date= 30 April 2012|accessdate=30 April 2012 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n277137 |title=Europeans 'to boycott' Ukraine's Euro 2012 |publisher=FOCUS Information Agency |date=4 May 2012 |accessdate=25 May 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Austrian Chancellor, Werner Faymann, announced in May that Austrian government officials would not attend the tournament as a "political signal."{{cite web|url=http://football.uk.reuters.com/leagues/euro2012/news/2012/05/02/657D7A46-9480-11E1-9AE5-4AE37F33923B.php|title=Austrian officials to boycott Euro 2012 in Ukraine|work=Reuters|date=2 May 2012|accessdate=2 May 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709063734/http://football.uk.reuters.com/leagues/euro2012/news/2012/05/02/657D7A46-9480-11E1-9AE5-4AE37F33923B.php|archive-date=9 July 2012|url-status=dead}} Belgium's government officials announced they would boycott games held in Ukraine, with Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders calling on Ukraine's government to respect all of Tymoshenko's rights.{{cite news|author=AP Thursday, 3 May 2012 |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2113781,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504000033/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2113781,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 May 2012 |title=Austria, Belgium to Boycott Ukraine Games |magazine=Time |date= 3 May 2012|accessdate=3 May 2012 }} Germany announced that German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit would depend on Tymoshenko's release, and Merkel urged her ministers to do the same.{{cite news|first=Kate |last=Connolly |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/29/angela-merkel-boycott-euro-2012-yulia-tymoshenko?newsfeed=true |title=Angela Merkel plans Euro 2012 boycott if Yulia Tymoshenko kept in jail |work=The Guardian |date= 29 April 2012|accessdate=3 May 2012 |location=London}} Germany's Interior and sports minister Hans-Peter Friedrich boycotted country's match against the Netherlands in Kharkiv. The manager of Bayern Munich, Jupp Heynckes, called on the President of UEFA, Platini, to condemn Ukraine's authoritarian regime, and the manager of Borussia Dortmund, Jürgen Klopp, stated that he would boycott the event. However, German sports officials said that such boycotts are ineffective and the event should go ahead.{{cite web |last=Grohmann |first=Karolos |url=http://football.uk.reuters.com/leagues/euro2012/news/2012/04/30/F0AF9EBC-92CF-11E1-A314-69538033923B.php |title=German sports officials bid to halt Euro boycott talk |publisher=Football.uk.reuters.com |date=23 February 2010 |accessdate=30 April 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708153511/http://football.uk.reuters.com/leagues/euro2012/news/2012/04/30/F0AF9EBC-92CF-11E1-A314-69538033923B.php |archive-date=8 July 2012 |url-status=dead }} Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticised calls for a boycott saying that they were inappropriate,{{cite web|author=Independent Newspapers Online |url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/polish-pm-criticises-calls-for-ukraine-boycott-1.1288696 |title=Polish PM criticises calls for Ukraine boycott | IOL News |work=Independent Online|location=South Africa |date=5 May 2010 |accessdate=3 May 2012 }} but added that Ukraine's reputation would "suffer dramatically" without a solution. Poland's opposition party was in favour of boycotting matches in Ukraine to change the decision on Tymoshenko.{{cite web|url=http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/126986/ |title=Kyiv Post. Independence. Community. Trust – Ukraine – Kaczynski calls for boycott of Euro 2012 matches in Ukraine |work=Kyiv Post |accessdate=3 May 2012 }}

Ukraine compared the threats of boycott by European powers as a return to Cold War tactics.{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/04/30/threat-to-boycott-euro-soccer-championship-in-ukraine-over-tymoshenko-jailing-a-cold-war-tactic-spokesman/ |title=Yulia Tymoshenko: Threat to boycott Euro soccer championship in Ukraine over PM jailing a 'Cold-War tactic,' Oleh Voloshin |work=National Post |accessdate=30 April 2012}} In a statement, UEFA said it "alerted the Ukrainian delegation about the concerns raised by the political situation in Ukraine among European politicians and media",{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0501/ukraine-condemns-call-for-boycott-of-euro-2012.html |title=Ukraine condemns call for boycott of Euro 2012 games – RTÉ News |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |date=20 October 2010 |accessdate=3 May 2012 }} but that "UEFA has no position and will not take any regarding the political situation in Ukraine, and will not interfere with internal government matters."{{cite news|author=Matt Scott |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/european-championships-2012/9241976/Sports-minister-Hugh-Robertson-could-boycott-Ukraine-during-Euro-2012.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503013911/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/european-championships-2012/9241976/Sports-minister-Hugh-Robertson-could-boycott-Ukraine-during-Euro-2012.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 May 2012 |title=Sports minister Hugh Robertson could boycott Ukraine during Euro 2012 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=2 May 2012 |accessdate=25 May 2012 |location=London}} Meanwhile, the heads of state of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and Slovenia reportedly turned down an invitation to attend a summit of central and eastern European leaders that Ukraine was due to hold.{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/05/201254934369821.html |title=Ukraine rejects Russian refuge for Tymoshenko |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=4 May 2012 |accessdate=25 May 2012 }} The European Union asserted that all its commissioners would boycott the events in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted in saying that the boycott call was wrong and offered to give Tymoshenko medical treatment in his country, this was rejected. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry added that the threat of boycott could "hurt mutual understanding" and that they "view as destructive attempts to politicise sporting events, which since ancient times have played a paramount role in improving understanding and agreement between nations. An attack on this big dream undermines the chances of...all the former Socialist Bloc members to prove that their economic, human and scientific potential can turn them from the debtors of Europe to its engine of growth."{{cite news|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/05/201253185242859981.html |title=Ukraine slams EU threat to boycott Euro 2012 |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=3 May 2012 |accessdate=25 May 2012 }}

File:UEFA Euro 2012, Poland-Russia, 12.06.2012 DSC 1738.JPG on 12 June 2012.]]

On 28 May 2012, BBC current affairs programme Panorama examined the issues of racism, antisemitism and football hooliganism which it stated were prevalent among Polish and Ukrainian supporters.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18192375 | title=Sol Campbell warns fans to stay away from Euro 2012 |work=BBC News | publisher=BBC | date=28 May 2012 | accessdate=29 May 2012}} The programme, titled Euro 2012: Stadiums of Hate, included recent footage of supporters in chanting various antisemitic slogans and displays of white power symbols and banners. The documentary recorded antisemitism and monkey noise taunts of black players in Poland. In Ukraine, it recorded Nazi salutes and FC Metalist Kharkiv supporters violently assaulting a group of South Asian students at the Metalist Oblast Sports Complex, one of the stadiums hosting matches in Ukraine.{{cite news |title =Asian fans racially abused in Euro 2012 stadium |publisher=BBC |date =29 May 2012 |url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18233736 |accessdate =29 May 2012 }}{{Cite news|title=Steer clear of Euro 2012, warns former England defenders Sol Campbell|first=Neil|last=Lancefield|date=28 May 2012|accessdate=29 May 2012|work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/steer-clear-of-euro-2012-warns-former-england-defenders-sol-campbell-7792616.html|location=London}} Panorama filmed black former England defender Sol Campbell watching these clips, and then asked him whether he would recommend families go to the Championship. He responded: "Stay at home, watch it on TV. Don't even risk it... because you could end up coming back in a coffin."{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18192375 | work=BBC News | title=Sol Campbell warns fans to stay away from Euro 2012 | date=28 May 2012}}

The report was then followed up by most of the British media, which published a large number of articles accusing Poles and Ukrainians of racism.{{cite web|url=http://www.spiked-online.com/site/article/12520/ |title=Euro 2012: are Ukrainians still Untermenschen? | Brendan O'Neill | spiked |publisher=Spiked-online.com |accessdate=22 August 2012}}

The documentary was criticised as sensationalist, unbalanced and unethical. Jonathan Ornstein, the executive director of the Jewish Community Centre of Kraków, a Jewish source used in the film said: "I am furious at the way the BBC has exploited me as a source. The organization used me and others to manipulate the serious subject of anti-Semitism for its own sensationalist agenda... the BBC knowingly cheated its own audience - the British people - by concocting a false horror story about Poland. In doing so, the BBC has spread fear, ignorance, prejudice and hatred. I am profoundly disturbed by this unethical form of journalism."{{cite news| url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2012/06/ugly-spectre | newspaper=The Economist | title=Euro 2012 is overshadowed by accusations of racism and anti-Semitism | date=6 June 2012}}

Another source used in the film, anti-racism campaigner Jacek Purski said: "The material prepared by the BBC is one-sided. It does not show the whole story of Polish preparations for the Euros. It does not show the Championship ran a lot of activities aimed at combating racism in the "Respect Diversity" campaign. For us the Euro is not only about matches. The event has become an opportunity to fight effectively against racism and promote multiculturalism. There is no country in Europe free from racism. These are the facts."{{cite web|url=http://krakow.gazeta.pl/krakow/1,44425,11824886,Wszyscy_jestesmy_odpowiedzialni_za_pseudokibicow.html |title=Wszyscy jesteśmy odpowiedzialni za pseudokibiców |publisher=Krakow.gazeta.pl |accessdate=22 August 2012}}

Black Polish MP John Godson said: "The documentary was biased, one sided and rather sensational. I have received information that there were also interviews that were omitted by the BBC—for example interview with the Polish police."{{cite news| url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2012/06/poland-and-bbc | newspaper=The Economist | title=Stitch up unstitched—updated (again) | date=13 June 2012}}

A reporter from Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland's biggest liberal newspaper, questioned Panorama's practices and said: "I am becoming more and more surprised with what the BBC says. So far it has denied two situations I witnessed. I would not be surprised if the BBC prepared a statement saying that the Panorama crew has never been to Poland."

Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Oleh Voloshyn responded that the allegations were an "invented and mythical problem",{{Cite news|title=Ukraine says UK press racism allegations "invented"|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-euro-ukraine-racism-idUKBRE84S0J120120529|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109093741/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-euro-ukraine-racism-idUKBRE84S0J120120529|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 January 2016|first=Richard|last=Balmforth|date=29 May 2012|accessdate=29 May 2012|work=Reuters}} and that "Nazi symbols can be seen at ... any match in England".{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18253420 | title=Euro 2012: Ukraine hits back after Sol Campbell warns fans | work=BBC Sport | accessdate=29 May 2012}} Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated: "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."{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/Football/Unfair-say-organisers/Article1-863192.aspx |title='Unfair' say organisers |work=Hindustan Times|date=29 May 2012 |accessdate=14 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201153444/http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/Football/Unfair-say-organisers/Article1-863192.aspx |archivedate=1 December 2012}}

The Guardian reported: "Other sources have come forward to say that an interview with a Jewish Israeli player was also cut from the programme because he failed to confirm Panorama's "anti-semitism" thesis. The BBC interviewed midfielder Aviram Baruchian, who played shortly for the Polish team Polonia Warsaw. One source who was present said the Panorama journalists had complained afterwards that the interview was "useless". Panorama strongly denies this."{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/13/ukraine-bbc-euro-2012-panorama?INTCMP=SRCH | location=London | work=The Guardian | first1=Luke | last1=Harding | first2=Kamil | last2=Tchorek | title=Ukraine attacks BBC Panorama documentary as 'provocation' | date=13 June 2012}}

Panorama responded to the criticism, saying: "England Fans, the official England Supporters' Club, travelling to Euro 2012 called the programme unhelpful and some Poles in the UK have expressed concern that they have been labelled as racist. But amid all of these accusations against Panorama and the BBC, there is a real fear that the key issue has been missed - the overt and frightening racist and anti-Semitic abuse and violence of the kind broadcast by Panorama is both wrong and deeply upsetting to those on its receiving end. That was the point of the programme. We set out to highlight a wrong. Were the beatings that the students from India sustained in Ukraine's Metalist stadium somehow "exaggerated"? Was the fact that they said the police were of "no use" as they walked off bruised and alone into the Ukrainian night somehow "made up"? Were the monkey chants hurled at the black players we filmed in Poland somehow "sensationalised"?{{cite web|author=Tom Giles |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2012/06/stadiums_of_hate_legitimate_an.html |title=The Editors: 'Stadiums of Hate': Legitimate and fair |publisher=BBC |accessdate=22 August 2012}}

Brendan O'Neill, the editor of Spiked wrote that England fans had staged "a protest against BBC Panorama's hysterical depiction of Ukraine as a hotbed of racism and anti-Semitism, which they have discovered during their stay in that country to be untrue. ...it was the respectable Beeb, echoed by broadsheets, which painted an entire nation "over there" as backward and prejudiced, while it has fallen to everyday fans to poke holes in this xenophobic mythmaking and to point out that there is actually nothing scary about modern Ukraine and its inhabitants. England fans have proven themselves way more racially enlightened than the aloof suits in the current-affairs department of the BBC."{{cite news| url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100166543/englands-football-fans-have-proven-that-they-are-far-more-racially-enlightened-than-the-bbc/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623061548/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100166543/englands-football-fans-have-proven-that-they-are-far-more-racially-enlightened-than-the-bbc/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=23 June 2012 | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=England's football fans have proven that they are far more racially enlightened than the BBC | date=20 June 2012}}

England football coach Roy Hodgson said the racism allegations were "the biggest negativity in England... As a result I think we've lost a lot of fans who didn't come because of a lot of horror stories about how life would be in the Ukraine and Poland." Hodgson added that he had nothing but positive impressions of Poland and Ukraine.{{cite web|url=http://en.ria.ru/sports/20120620/174133954.html |title=Hodgson: Ukraine 'Horror Stories' Deterred Fans | Sports |agency=RIA Novosti |date=20 June 2012 |accessdate=22 August 2012}}

The Daily Mirror commented: "The biggest plus of Euro 2012 must be the scaremongering presented by BBC's Panorama of violence and terrible racism in Poland and Ukraine largely proved to be just that. If you do not believe me, then take the word of Gary Lineker who did not mind taking a swipe at his BBC bosses to point out how friendly and accommodating the locals have been. Ahead of Spain's semi with Portugal, Lineker tweeted: "Donetsk is a lovely town with friendly folk. Pre-tournament scaremongering way off the mark"."{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/matt-laws-euro-2012-diary-946599 |title=Matt Law's Euro 2012 diary: My highs and lows of the tournament in Poland and Ukraine - Matt Law - Mirror Online |work=Mirror|date=30 June 2012 |accessdate=22 August 2012}}

According to the Dutch daily de Telegraaf, during an open training session in Kraków, Dutch black players were allegedly subjected to monkey noises and jeers, an incident that the Netherlands captain Mark van Bommel described as a "real disgrace". UEFA acknowledged that there had been "isolated incidents of racist chanting".{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/euro-2012/9319222/Euro-2012-Uefa-acknowledge-isolated-racist-chants-directed-at-black-Holland-players-during-training-session.html | archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171018191625/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/euro-2012/9319222/Euro-2012-Uefa-acknowledges-isolated-racist-chants-directed-at-black-Holland-players-during-training-session.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=18 October 2017 | title=Euro 2012: Uefa acknowledge 'isolated' racist chants directed at black Holland players during training session | work=The Telegraph| accessdate=8 June 2012 | date=8 June 2012 | location=London}}

However, other Dutch media, including the prestigious daily de Volkskrant, have reported that the allegations of monkey chants were made up. According to the newspaper, the coach of the Dutch team has made several statements to the BBC that he had not heard the supposed chanting, nor did the rest of the team. According to de Volksrant, the story was sensationalized by de Telegraaf.{{cite news| url=http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/1,114881,11932948,Holenderskie_media__Opowiesci_o_malpich_odglosach.html|title=Holenderskie media: Opowieści o małpich odgłosach są wyssane z palca |trans-title=The stories about monkey chants are pulled out of thin air| accessdate =14 June 2012}}

The first incidence of hooliganism at Euro 2012 happened on 8 June 2012 after Russia vs Czech Republic in Wrocław. Russian hooligans were violent against Polish stewards at the Wrocław's Municipal Stadium.{{Cite web |url=http://wroclaw.gazeta.pl/wroclaw/1,80198,11900273,Pobicie_stewardow__Policja_ma_zdjecia_12_kiboli_z.html |title=Sławomir Pawłowski, [[Gazeta Wyborcza]], 09.06.2012 |access-date=22 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617022902/http://wroclaw.gazeta.pl/wroclaw/1,80198,11900273,Pobicie_stewardow__Policja_ma_zdjecia_12_kiboli_z.html |archive-date=17 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn_RlwJDO_Y Youtube: "Russian hooligans beat steward EURO 2012 Wroclaw-Poland"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615144539/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn_RlwJDO_Y |date=15 June 2014 }} Around 30 Russian hooligans attacked a handful of stewards.{{cite web|url=http://wiadomosci.wp.tv/i,Pobicie-stewardow-we-Wroclawiu,mid,1031057,index.html?ticaid=6ea23#m1031057 |title=Polish TV video |publisher=Wiadomosci.wp.tv |accessdate=22 August 2012}} Four stewards needed hospital treatment after this attack.{{cite web|author=GMT |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18383678 |title=BBC Sport, "Uefa investigates improper conduct by Russia fans" |publisher=BBC |date=9 June 2012 |accessdate=22 August 2012}}

On 11 June 2012, before the Euro 2012 match between Croatia and Ireland, Croatian football fans clashed with riot police in the Polish city of Poznań.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18398919 |title=Mike Linstead, BBC: "Croatian fans clash with police before match" video |publisher=BBC |date=11 June 2012 |accessdate=22 August 2012}} Croatian fans threw chairs, bottles and flares at Polish riot police. The incident began after a clash between intoxicated supporters of two rival Croatian teams from Zagreb and Split in one of the city centre's bars, shortly after 5:00 pm.

Croatia was also later charged with racist chants and symbols against Mario Balotelli in the Italy game with anti-discrimination monitors reporting monkey noises were being made as well as far-right Ustaše nationalist flags being displayed. A photographer for the AFP also reported monkey noises made and spotting a steward picking up a banana that was thrown onto the pitch.{{cite news|title=UEFA charge Croatian football association with racism after reports fans made monkey chants at Mario Balotelli|date=16 June 2012|agency=Australian Associated Press|work=Fox Sports|location=Warsaw|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/euro-2012/uefa-fine-croatian-fa-25000-for-crowd-trouble-at-euro-2012-amid-reports-of-racism-from-fans/story-fndz7cg9-1226397324379|accessdate=19 June 2012}} The Croatian FA was fined $101,000 for this racial abuse and for setting off fireworks in the same match.

A clash involving Russian and Polish hooligans took place in Warsaw on 12 June 2012.[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120613095255/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/euro-2012/9327483/Euro-2012-183-arrested-after-Polish-and-Russian-clash-as-march-descends-into-violence-on-Russia-Day.html Euro 2012: Polish and Russian fans injured in clash as march descends into violence on Russia Day], The Telegraph, 12 June 2012 The violence broke out when, during a march organised by Russian fans celebrating Russia Day before the Poland vs. Russia game at Warsaw's National Stadium, rival groups of supporters began to provoke each other with insulting chants.{{cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/police-halt-fan-march-amid-165316334.html |title=Violent clashes mar Poland's draw with Russia |publisher=Yahoo! |accessdate=14 June 2012}} The Polish Police fired warning shots and used water cannon to disperse rival groups of fans; around 100 arrests were made and ten people hospitalised – seven Poles, two Russians and one German.{{cite web |last=Borowski |first=Chris |url=http://football.uk.reuters.com/football/news/2012/06/12/45A5DF9C-B4E2-11E1-9AC3-0B3E8033923B.php |title=Fighting between Poles, Russians mars their Euro 2012 match |publisher=Football.uk.reuters.com |date=23 February 2010 |accessdate=14 June 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104122317/http://football.uk.reuters.com/football/news/2012/06/12/45A5DF9C-B4E2-11E1-9AC3-0B3E8033923B.php |archive-date=4 January 2013 |url-status=dead }} In the same match Russian fans displayed a huge "This is Russia" banner during Russian national anthem in reference to World War II Soviet invasion of Poland.

Germany fans were charged with displaying "inappropriate banners and symbols", and fined $12,550 for bombarding Portuguese players with paper balls during their group match in Lviv.{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/19/uefa-germany-improper-fan-conduct-euro-2012_n_1608848.html | work=HuffPost| title=UEFA Charges Germany For Improper Fan Conduct | date=19 June 2012}}

UEFA has opened proceedings to fine both the football federations of Spain and Russia. Spanish fans were accused of chants to black Italian player Mario Balotelli, and Russian fans showed similar behavior in their game against the Czech Republic, where Theodor Gebre Selassie noted racial chants from Russian fans.{{cite web|last=Palmer |first=Justin |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/spain-russia-face-uefa-racism-charges-115841975--sow.html |title=Spain and Russia face UEFA racism charges in Euro 2012 - Yahoo! Sports |publisher=Yahoo! Sport |date=26 June 2012 |accessdate=22 August 2012}}

Disorder broke out in Bedford, England after Italy defeated England on 24 June. In the town with a large Italian diaspora, about 150 England fans targeted Italian fans; cars were damaged, there were four arrests and one person was hurt, but not seriously.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-18576404 |title=Euro 2012: Bedford disorder after England lose to Italy |publisher=BBC |date=25 June 2012 |accessdate=22 August 2012}} Some English Twitter users were investigated by police on accusations of racially abusing black English players Ashley Cole and Ashley Young, whose missed penalties caused the team to exit the tournament.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

Denmark forward Nicklas Bendtner was fined €100,000 and received a one-match ban by UEFA for unauthorised sponsorship during the group stage game against Portugal. After scoring his and Denmark's second goal in the 3–2 defeat, Bendtner lowered his shorts to reveal the logo of Irish bookmakers Paddy Power on the waistband of his underwear. UEFA's disciplinary action against Bendtner came under scrutiny by critics due to the severity of the punishment when compared to other incidents which have been investigated by the governing body, where lower fines were handed out for incidents considered to be much more severe in nature. These include a €20,000 fine for FC Porto in April that year for racist abuse from their fans during a UEFA Europa League game, a €30,000 fine for Manchester City in the same month for delaying the restart of a match in the competition, and a €40,000 fine and a three-match ban for Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger in March for confronting the referee in the UEFA Champions League.{{cite news |title=Nicklas Bendtner's £80,000 fine for sponsored underwear exposes Uefa's skewed priorities |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/euro-2012/9339202/Nicklas-Bendtners-80000-fine-for-sponsored-underwear-exposes-Uefas-skewed-priorities.html |work=The Telegraph |date=18 June 2012}}

Ukraine came under criticism from animal welfare organisations for killing stray cats and dogs in order to prepare for Euro 2012.{{Cite news|title=Ukraine accused of culling dogs in clean-up for Euro 2012|last=Osborn|first=Andrew|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=3 December 2011|page=23}} On 13 November 2011 the Ukrainian Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources urged mayors around the country to stop the killings for six months and build shelters instead, but it was unclear how this measure will be enforced. The ministry's comments also suggested this would only be a temporary measure, drawing further criticism.{{cite news |title=Ukraine to stop killing stray dogs before Euro 2012 football championship|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/17/euro2012-ukraine-stops-killing-stray-dogs|date=17 November 2011 | location=London|work=The Guardian}}{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-calls-for-dog-killing-ban-6263495.html | title=Ukraine calls for dog killing ban | work=The Independent| accessdate=30 May 2012 | location=London | date=17 November 2011}} Mykola Zlochevsky, minister of the environment, said that amendments would be made to the Ukrainian legislation regarding the treatment of stray animals.{{Cite news|title=Naturewatch thanks UEFA for help on stray dogs|date=7 December 2011|publisher=UEFA|access-date=31 May 2012|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7d399ed43d-026fb235f56a-1000--naturewatch-thanks-uefa-for-help-on-stray-dogs/}} The minister also agreed a programme of construction for new animal shelters, the first to be completed by June 2012, and the introduction of new legislation making it "compulsory for city mayors to enforce such new regulations or run the risk of facing prosecution."{{Cite news|title=UEFA welcomes Ukraine decision on stray dogs|date=22 November 2011|publisher=UEFA|access-date=31 May 2012|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7d34d3f18c-2222d05bf01c-1000--uefa-welcomes-ukraine-decision-on-stray-dogs/}} In spite of these promises, in April 2012 it was found that dog killings were continuing unabated.{{Cite news|title=Ukraine STILL killing dogs ahead of Euro 2012|date=29 April 2012|url=http://www.people.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2012/04/29/ukraine-still-killing-dogs-ahead-of-euro-2012-102039-23841994/}}

{{further|2012 Dnipropetrovsk explosions}}

On 27 April 2012, four bombs went off in Dnipropetrovsk in Ukraine (which was not a host city). At least 29 people were injured in what was described as a terrorist attack.{{cite news|title=Ukraine bomb blasts injure dozens ahead of Euro 2012 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/27/ukraine-bomb-blasts-scores-injured |work=The Guardian | location=London |first=Miriam |last=Elder |date=27 April 2012}} Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said that there would be an "adequate" response.{{cite web|url=http://tvp.info/informacje/swiat/janukowycz-odpowiemy-adekwatnie/7193558 |title=Janukowycz: odpowiemy adekwatnie |date=27 April 2012 |publisher=Tvp.Info |accessdate=30 April 2012}} Hryhoriy Surkis, then head of the Ukrainian Football Federation, said that he "[thought] the people who committed this brutal crime...are also accomplices to an attack on the image of our country ahead of the Euro-2012." UEFA responded to the incident by saying that it was confident of having a "smooth and festive tournament,"{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/04/2012428102627976547.html |title=No concerns about tournament |publisher=Al Jazeera |accessdate=3 May 2012}} however, if the political situation were to become more unstable, UEFA was reported have been open to the idea of the postponing the event until 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/spain/euro-2012/news/spain-offer-to-host-euro-2012_25782.html |title=Spain offer to host Euro 2012? |publisher=Sports Mole |accessdate=3 May 2012}} Following serious security concerns, Ángel María Villar, the Royal Spanish Football Federation president, reportedly offered to stage Euro 2012 in Spain.

The FEMEN group protested against a feared surge in prostitution and what they argue are Ukrainian government moves to legalise prostitution during the championships. Activists staged several topless protests, some on the Euro 2012 trophy while it was on public display.{{cite news|title=Ukraine women go topless against UEFA, prostitution |url=http://bikyamasr.com/50158/ukraine-women-go-topless-against-uefa-prostitution/ |date=3 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402050509/http://bikyamasr.com/50158/ukraine-women-go-topless-against-uefa-prostitution/ |archivedate=2 April 2012 }}{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/9288165/Topless-protester-attempts-to-snatch-Euro-2012-trophy-in-Ukraine.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524212037/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/9288165/Topless-protester-attempts-to-snatch-Euro-2012-trophy-in-Ukraine.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 May 2012 | title=Topless protester attempts to snatch Euro 2012 trophy in Ukraine | work=The Telegraph| accessdate=30 May 2012 | location=London | date=24 May 2012}} The group asked UEFA and the Ukrainian government to create a social program devoted to the problem of sex tourism and prostitution in Ukraine; to inform football fans that prostitution is illegal in Ukraine; and to take additional steps to fight against prostitution and sex tourism.{{cite news|title=Euro 2012 Without Prostitution: Femen Activists Go Topless Against UEFA|url=http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/11012768-euro-2012-without-prostitution-femen-activists-go-topless-against-uefa|date=2 December 2011|accessdate=30 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107092105/http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/11012768-euro-2012-without-prostitution-femen-activists-go-topless-against-uefa|archive-date=7 January 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/02/ukraine-activists-topless-protests-euro-2012-prostitution_n_1126181.html |title=Topless Protestors At Euro 2012 Draw Against Legal Prostitution During Soccer Tournament |date= 2 December 2012 |accessdate=30 May 2012 |work=HuffPost}}

In April 2012, while on an inspection trip to the host city of Lviv, UEFA president Michel Platini labelled hoteliers as "bandits and crooks" for raising hotel prices in Ukraine for Euro 2012.{{cite news |title=Euro 2012 waiting to catch fire

|url=https://www.soccerallover.com/2012/04/euro-2012-waiting-to-catch-fire.html|date=12 April 2012}} President Yanukovych ordered his government to prevent hoteliers from charging inflated prices.{{Cite news|title=UEFA chief slams price-gouging from Ukraine hotels|work=AP Worldstream|date=12 April 2012}} Some hoteliers had increased prices eighty-fold, causing Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to warn that state control of hotel tariffs might be introduced.{{Cite news|title=Ukraine's Euro 2012 hotel crisis eases, a little|first=Anya|last=Tsukanova|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=16 May 2012|accessdate=30 May 2012|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jZDcN2RFp3ow6OV3qc3Ky3vM5Q0w?docId=CNG.46afa8e3fa6fa570e0e02b7af57f730a.a1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904081723/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jZDcN2RFp3ow6OV3qc3Ky3vM5Q0w?docId=CNG.46afa8e3fa6fa570e0e02b7af57f730a.a1|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 September 2012}} Later that month, Markian Lubkivsky, head of the Euro 2012 organizing committee in Ukraine, said hotel and hostel prices were no longer "critically" inflated.{{cite news |title=Euro 2012 hotel prices brought to norm in Ukraine|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/19/2757226/euro-2012-hotel-prices-brought.html |work=The Miami Herald|date=19 April 2012}}

The television transmission was not completely live. Several scenes were mounted into the transmission as thought appropriate, or cut out, or left out altogether. On the order of UEFA it was forbidden to show the empty seats in the stadiums. The scene where the German coach Joachim Löw trolls a ball boy actually happened before the match.Jürgen Kaube: [https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/die-em-im-fernsehen-die-regie-spielt-falsch-11787080.html Die Regie spielt falsch.] In: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 15. Juni 2012. The same is true for the footage of a German fan's tears, which happened before the match, but was shown after the Italian goal. The German broadcasting agency ARD expressed its intention to file a complaint against these practices by UEFA.[http://www.sueddeutsche.de/medien/ard-will-sich-bei-uefa-beschweren-montierte-traenen-1.1397775 Montierte Tränen auf sz.de], 29. Juni 2012.[http://www.focus.de/kultur/kino_tv/em-halbfinale-italien-gegen-deutschland-uefa-montiert-traenen-ueber-balotellis-treffer_aid_775227.html Uefa montiert Tränen über Balotellis Treffer...], 30 June 2012.

During the final matchday of the group stage, on 19 June, the match between England and Ukraine featured a "ghost goal" by Marko Dević. In the second half, with Ukraine losing 1–0 to a header from Wayne Rooney, Dević's shot was hooked clear from behind the England goal-line by John Terry under the eyes of the fifth official standing beside the goal (as confirmed by video replays).{{cite news|first=Will|last=Tidey|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1228174-marko-devic-for-ukraine-vs-england-enters-goal-line-technology-hall-of-shame|title=Ukraine vs. England: Marko Devic Enters Goal-Line Technology Hall of Shame|work=The Bleacher Report|date=19 June 2012|accessdate=19 June 2012}} England ultimately won the group (after Sweden overturned France in the night's other game) and Ukraine went out of the tournament. Dević's "ghost goal" reopened football's goal-line technology debate.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/5-famous-soccer-goal-line-controversies/2012/06/19/gJQA9x5ooV_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908185708/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/5-famous-soccer-goal-line-controversies/2012/06/19/gJQA9x5ooV_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 September 2019|title=5 Famous Soccer Goal-Line Controversies|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=19 June 2012|accessdate=19 June 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/soccer/england-france-through-to-euro-2012-quarters/story-e6frfg8x-1226402433748|title=England, France through to Euro 2012 quarters|work=Herald Sun|date=20 June 2012|accessdate=20 June 2012}} Replays of the build-up also appeared to show Ukrainian forward Artem Milevskyi in an offside position when the ball was played to him, which also went unnoticed by the officials.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/rooney-seizes-his-chance-to-lift-englands-expectations-7866807.html|title=Rooney seizes his chance to lift England's expectations |work=The Independent|date=20 June 2012|accessdate=20 June 2012|location=London|first=Sam|last=Wallace}}

The Polish government station TVP bought exclusive rights to show the games in Poland for 120 million złoty and lost at least 50 million złoty due to lower advertising revenue.{{Cite web|url=http://finanse.wp.pl/kat,1033693,title,Nie-bedzie-Euro-2016-bo-nie-placicie-abonamentu,wid,16256427,wiadomosc.html|title=Nie będzie Euro 2016, bo nie płacicie abonamentu|date=13 December 2013}}

{{Reflist}}

{{UEFA Euro 2012}}

Concerns and controversies

2012

Category:2012 controversies

Category:Foreign relations of Poland

Category:Foreign relations of Ukraine