WAGs planning to use private jet

Published Jun. 4, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The wives and girlfriends of England's soccer players are planning to hire a private jet to whisk them to and from Euro 2012 amid fears for their safety.

The women are worried about the threat of violence and racism from some fans in Ukraine and Poland.

It comes after families of black England stars Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain said they would not go to the championship finals in case they were targeted.

A group of wives and girlfriends decided the safest way to see the team in action is to fly in for the games and then jet home again without staying overnight.

The plane will cost the women tens of thousands of dollars. A source close to the women told The Sun, "The idea is that they'll club together and pool the cost. There have been a lot of scare stories, and the players don't want their wives and girlfriends to be put in any jeopardy."

Black former England star Sol Campbell said European soccer's governing body UEFA was wrong to choose Poland and Ukraine to host this year's tournament because it put supporters in danger from racist and hooligan gangs of local fans.

He warned, "Stay at home, watch it on TV. You could come back in a coffin."

All of England's group games are in Ukraine. Their first is against France in Donetsk next Monday.

The England and Wales Football Association has sold just 3,000 tickets for each group game.