Officials deny Euro 2012 will be tainted by racism

Officials deny Euro 2012 will be tainted by racism

Published May. 31, 2012 3:10 p.m. ET

Ukrainian officials have angrily denied that football fans of African and Asian origin will be the targets of violence by racist hooligans at the European Championship.

In fact, they're so confident of a peaceful tournament that only a few dozen police officers will be present at each game - and well out of view of spectators.

A BBC documentary this week showed footage of Ukrainian hooligans violently attacking Asian fans supporting the same team at a domestic league match as well as examples of blatant anti-Semitism.

Ex-England footballer Sol Campbell has warned English fans to stay home or risk returning ''in a coffin.'' And the families of two black England players - Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - say they may not travel to the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

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