Campbell warns of racism, violence at Euro 2012

Updated May 29, 2012 11:56:26

Former England soccer captain Sol Campbell is warning England fans not to travel to Euro 2012 because of the threat of racism and violence.

Campbell, the former Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur defender who played 73 times for England and appeared at six major tournaments, said UEFA should not have allowed Poland and Ukraine to host the event.

"Stay at home, watch it on TV," he told BBC's Panorama program.

"Don't even risk it ... because you could end up coming back in a coffin."

Campbell's comments come after the family of two black England players said they would not go to the championship.

The brother of midfielder Theo Walcott has tweeted that he and his father would not go because of "possible racist attacks", while the family of his Arsenal team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have also shelved their travel plans.

The BBC documentary investigated violence and racism at football matches in the host countries.

It contained footage of fans giving Nazi salutes and taunting black players with monkey noises and anti-Semitic chants.

It also featured footage of a group of Asian students being attacked at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, which is hosting three group matches.

Campbell said UEFA was wrong to have allowed the eastern European countries to host the competition, starting on June 8.

"What they should say is that if you want this tournament you sort your problems out," he said.

"Until we see a massive improvement, that you have sorted it out, you are never going to get the tournament.

"You do not deserve these prestigious tournaments in your country."

Last week UEFA president Michel Platini said he was optimistic that there would be no racism at the matches, but agreed he was powerless to prevent it happening himself.

"I believe the tournament will be a great success, and I trust the fans will behave, but we shall see. There are problems at every tournament, always," he said.

"We also have problems with hotel prices in Ukraine, and we have raised our serious concerns.

"We do not want fans to stay away for any reason, and I hope they do not."

In a statement, UEFA said: "Euro 2012 brings the spotlight on the host countries and clearly creates an opportunity to address and confront such societal issues."

"UEFA's zero-tolerance approach to racism is still valid both on and off the pitch and ultimately the referee has the power to stop or abandon a match should racist incidents occur."

Reuters

Tags: euro, soccer, sport, world-politics, race-relations, ukraine, united-kingdom, poland

First posted May 29, 2012 11:56:26

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Heart coach warns against derby emotion

Updated October 21, 2011 16:30:56

Melbourne Heart coach John van 't Schip says his players can not afford to let lingering emotion from a bitter previous clash with Melbourne Victory influence Saturday night's re-match.

The simmering rivalry between the neighbouring clubs hit boiling point in their most recent meeting - late last season - when since-retired Victory captain Kevin Muscat was sent off for a brutal tackle on Heart youngster Adrian Zahra.

Zahra has still not returned from the resultant injury and players from both clubs have this week suggested Saturday night's Docklands encounter could again get fiery.

But van 't Schip, whose side sits bottom of the table after losing its first two matches, says the Heart have bigger concerns than settling old scores.

"You're not going to win games with bringing that into the game," he said.

"It's a new team, a new season and we just have to focus on the things that we have to do tomorrow.

"Hopefully we'll do that the right way and just be there and play football."

Van 't Schip, in the second season of his two-year contract, admits he and everyone else at the club are feeling pressure to produce a positive result.

"It's an important game. There's more pressure on the game than maybe we expected," he said.

"But it's the way it is and we have to deal with it. We have to focus on what we have to do, because it doesn't help to think of all other kinds of things."

Victory counterpart Mehmet Durakovic has his own concerns, with only one point and no goals from two matches guiding what looks on paper to be the competition's most potent attack.

Durakovic indicated he will this week drop Carlos Hernandez from the starting side and move Archie Thompson closer to goal as he tries to shuffle his glut of attacking options into a productive unit.

But he is confident they wil eventually form an attack as potent as the star power suggested it ought to be and says star recruit Harry Kewell is still finding his feet.

"He hasn't got the match fitness yet at the moment and it will take time," Durakovic said.

"So wherever we need Harry to play, he'll play.

"But it will take two or three weeks and once we get the structure right, we'll be OK."

Veteran goalkeeper Clint Bolton and experienced defender Simon Colosimo will return to shore up a struggling Heart defence - but captain Fred is out injured - while the Victory are without suspended skipper Adrian Leijer.

AAP

Tags: soccer, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted October 21, 2011 16:30:56

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Matildas no easybeats, warns Brazil coach

Posted June 28, 2011 22:20:00

Brazil coach Kleiton Lima has warned his side to take nothing for granted in their opening match of the Women's World Cup against Australia.

Brazil is among the World Cup favourites along with Germany and the United States but the South American coach wants his side to focus all their efforts on closing down the Matildas in their first Group D clash.

"People only think about playing against Germany or the United States but before that we have to win (in the group)," said Lima.

Brazil is ranked third by FIFA and Australia 11th, in a group which also includes 1995 champions Norway and debutants Equatorial Guinea.

"Now our most difficult rival is Australia because it is our first match," said Lima. "Before thinking about the others we have to get through the group stages first."

Despite boasting star players such as Marta and Cristiane, Brazil's women's team have consistently failed to live up to their potential.

The five-time South American champions' best result has been a runner-up spot in China four years ago behind Germany, and they also settled for second on the podium behind the United States at the past two Olympics.

Five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta believes it is Brazil's time to finally lift the title.

"It's time for us to add our name to the list of winners in this competition," said Marta.

Asian champion Australia is 1-1 in its last two meetings with Brazil.

The Aussies fell 3-2 in the 2007 World Cup quarter-finals to the Brazilians but a year later scored a memorable 1-0 victory in the Peace Cup in Korea.

Matildas coach Tom Sermanni ranks two-time defending champions Germany "obvious favourites. Brazil and US are strong," but he predicted "any team ranked in the top 12 are potential dark horses."

And the Australians are high on confidence after a 2-0 warm-up victory over England last week in Wolfsburg.

"Winning against a team like England, who by the way are highly fancied for this World Cup, is a boost," said Tom Sermanni.

"There's a real sense of confidence around the team at the moment - a real self belief and buzz in the playing group."

Much has changed in the Australia set-up since a career best run to the quarter-finals four years ago.

This year's squad has 13 World Cup debutantes, with an average age of almost 22 and nearly half the squad is 20 or under.

Sermanni described the squad as "different" from four years ago.

"Less experienced but great depth, greater mobility," he said.

Only striker Lisa De Vanna, most-capped current player Heather Garriock, fellow midfielders Collette McCallum, Lauren Colthorpe, Sally Shipard, defender Clare Polkinghorne along with captain and goalkeepers Melissa Barbieri and Lydia Williams remain from the 2007 squad.

Sermanni said he was "still working on combinations" before deciding who would play up front against Brazil, but said Aussie spirits were high.

"Very positive, lots of energy, enthusiasm, and noise. We are the loudest women's national team," he added.

- AFP

Tags: sport, football, australia, brazil, germany

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