What criteria are we to use? I am sure, instead of swearing in a fact-free manner, we need a criteria, a framework.
Fiasco doesn't do justice to the total shambles that is Donetsk fan camp site. 1 hour to check in, beds like rock, all payments have to be by a loaded card, and the prices never seem to tally. A left luggage room full on lockers so small that they don't fit any luggage in, with nowhere else to store luggage. And someone had the bright idea of putting DJs on, blaring out loud techno until 4 am, if not later, every night. Hardly surprising, but no hint of problems at England v France, even with a sprinkling of black fans at the game. We're going home in a coffin, sang the England fans. Most bizarre thing though was walking back into town after the game, down one of the main streets. This guy was walking down the path coming from the other direction. He looked no different from anyone else, just casually strolling along smoking a cigarette, like anyone else. Except that he was stark bollock naked.
^We get it. There are racists and nasty people everywhere... but we're talking about the amount, organization and potential for these types to cause trouble at Euro 2012 - not on some random train in England.
Nobody said there are not racist people in every country, what's the point of pulling up individuals? Groups of monkey chants in stadiums and discrimination in society is far more serious than random drunk single mothers on trains.
That doesn't surprise me about the fan camp. Like I said a Lon time ago, Ukraine has a ton of problems but you all wanted to focus on one that wasn't much of a problem to begin with.
Totaly agree. And what comes more discriminatory in a society, if whom is suposed to enforce anti discrimination within a country, is full of it ? : http://www.presstv.ir/detail/235100.html (oh yes, this was from only a couple of months before, so its not so back from the past, but present situation)
The Croats seem like they always start fights, I know they caused several in 08. From responses by Polish friends it seems like Russians are causing the most havoc. - Attacked Polish stewards - Russian March planned with Soviet flags present and rumors of paper airplanes signifying Poland's presidential plane crash (not happen yet) - Stones thrown at Poles already - Racist chants during game agains Theodor Gebre Selassie for Czech.
Gazeta.pl is reporting that the Polish Ultras are staging attacks on the Russians. There are videos of them standing on the sides and chanting anti-Russian messages as they walk passed them. The cops seem to have control for the most part. There have been Russian empire flags spotted in the crowd which is something that will incite the Polish hools. Now there are no Soviet flags because flying those are illegal in Poland and with such a huge police presence don't think anybody would be stupid enough to whip one out.
More pictures and video here (from Russian state television): http://www.rt.com/news/poland-football-fans-clash-654/
From the news link above: Seriously? Russians marching through Poland on Russia Day was approved? Who the hell is getting fired for this?
It's the connotation of Russia Day, which is a blow to the Soviet Union. Something Poland would agree with. At least that's the only excuse I can think of.
So why fly Soviet flags for? Isn't that a bit hypocritical, celebrate the fall of communism but march with a communist flag?
Warsaw's President. You know, you don't organise Turkish parades in Athenes and Japanese in Beijing... Somebody's utterly stupid. Maybe they wanted to protect most of Russian fans as smaller groups would be easily tracked down on the streets by Polish hooligans. Now the march is over and they arrived in the stadium few minutes ago...
Like I said, it's the only excuse I could think of. It doesn't mean THEY were thinking any. And considering Russia Day is controversial within Russia, there may have been some internal scuffling in addition to the fights between Russian and Polish hooligans.