A Dutch View on the Racism in Krakow
I found this on the Radio Nederland web site.
There were loud protests by disappointed Krakow football fans at the start of Holland’s training session on Wednesday afternoon. They voiced their frustration at the fact that Krakow was passed up by UEFA three years ago when it chose four Polish cities to host the 2012 European Championship.
The fans had put up a large banner with a no-entry sign painted on the tournament emblem. After about 15 minutes, security staff intervened, putting a stop to the whistles and chanting. The slogans reportedly included racist abuse, prompting the Dutch to continue their training to the other side of the pitch.
It was the only Holland training session at the Wisla Krakow stadium open to the public. Tickets were free and the stands were filled in no time. Hard-core fans flocked to the stadium’s west end and immediately made their presence felt.
Frustration
There’s still deep resentment in Krakow over the fact that the city failed to be chosen as one of the four Polish cities to host the prestigious Euro 2012 matches. Many can’t understand why Poland’s former capital and the county’s most popular tourist destination was ignored by UEFA.
Most suspect political reasons. They point to the traditional rivalry between the current capital Warsaw and the countries “most beautiful” city. Or they blame Krakow politicians for a weak bid and a strong “anti-football” lobby, supported by a large section of the population who are fed up with football-related violence and fear the worst when large numbers of foreign fans descend on the city.
Poland promotion
Krakow is known for its violent confrontations between the firms of Cracovia and Wisla Krakow, who’re locked in a long-running brutal war. National and local authorities are doing all they can to suppress hooliganism and racism during the Euros. They see the event as a great opportunity to promote their country. They are proud that as many as 13 out of the 16 Euro 2012 finalists are putting up their base camps in Poland, and not in co-host Ukraine. Three of these squads – Holland, England and Italy – have opted for Krakow as their home base.
I think it shows that UEFA didn’t really organise the competition properly. Just imagine if we organised a big football tournament and didn’t play a match in Birmingham, Liverpool or Manchester.
England Will Be Playing in Wales
I did’t know until the BBC pointed it out this morning, that Donetsk, where England play their first match on Monday, is actually a city founded by a Welshman called John Hughes in 1869. Everybody is taught at school, that the Welsh colonised Patagonia, but not The Ukraine.
Let’s hope that the dragon, the Welsh left behind is friendly! Except of course to racists!
Some Good News for Roy
England have gone up in the football rankings to sixth according to this report.
But is that ranking with or without the injured?
On the whole though, it’s good news. Which is a change!
The Racism Has Started
Why did the old farts in charge of UEFA take the tournament to Poland and the Ukraine, when they knew it might happen?
This incident involving the Dutch is actually in Poland.
I don’t think that the Dutch govenment will take this lying down.
The Netherlands are playing their first match against Denmark tomorrow.
I wonder what the odds are that we don’t through the first round without racist trouble.
And Now Defoe Has To Go Home!
Luck doesn’t seem to be going Roy Hodgson and England’s way! And now Jermaine Defoe has had to return home because of the death of his father. A report is here.
Let’s hope England will find strength in adversity.
And Now A Sprinter Arrives From Nowhere!
After the high jumper from Enfield, who nobody had heard of, BBC London has just announced the breakthrough into top class of Adam Gemili from Dartford. He has now run the second fastest time for a European over 100 metres this year as the BBC reports.
If this is only a taster, it’ll be a summer of good surprises.
Cardiff City To Change Colours
It would appear that the new Malaysian owners of Cardiff City are going to change the teams colours from blue to red, as reported here.
To my mind Cardiff City are one of those teams that don’t play in distinctive or unusual colours like Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers, Norwich City or QPR, so in some ways to change from one common colour to another is very strange.
Does it show that the new owners don’t understand football at all? If so, Cardiff City are on a steep slope to oblivion. Especially, as changing colours will alienate a large percentage of the fans. Are they going to buy new shirts? I doubt it!
Time will tell on this, but I think it’s a bit of a disaster.
Every Party Needs At Least A Few Irish
The torch is now in St. Stephen’s Green in the middle of Dublin. I think, for the rest of the Torch Relay, the places that follow will have a lot to live up to.
I had thought about going and I’m afraid that this will rank as one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made. There’s some pictures here.
On the log with the relay, there’s a picture of the torch being taken into Government buildings. They’d only do that in Ireland without malice!
The Republic Does the Torch Proud
This morning, I’ve watched the torch go through Dublin. Crowds are as big as ever.
You only know it’s Dublin, as you see green Irish rugby shirts, the odd tricolour and the Georgian houses still have their original railings.
The only problem was that they lost the 3G signal, when Jedward carried the torch, as everybody was there.
Olympic Torch Relay or Diamond Jubilee Service
I’m very much a supporter of the Queen and the work she does, but I’m watching the Olympic Torch Relay as it passes through Omagh.
I think when we look back on these days in the years to come, the Olympics of 2012 and the associated relay, may be in our memories more than the Diamond Jubilee. After all we’ve seen a lot of Royal ceremonials, but the Torch Relay could turn out to be an important moment, in the restoration of good relations between the UK and especially England and the whole island of Ireland. We may be divided in many ways, but no pessimist could say we’re not joined in our enjoyment of sport.
The Anonymous Widower 