Football rage: Two Indians face racial violence in Ukraine
A BBC documentary telecast on Monday to flag up Poland and Ukrainian football’s problems with racism and violence on the backdrop of the upcoming Euro-2012 has footage of two Malayalis being hit by the Ukrainian hooligans.
In the shocking video, the two young men are shown being attacked on the terraces of a stadium in Kharkiv where a Ukrainian premier league match between Metalist Kharkiv and Shakhtar Donetsk was held on May 2.
Though the names of the two Malayalis were not revealed in the documentary, conversations in Malayalam can be heard in the background during when the duo gives their quotes. Physical attributes and the English accent of the men also suggest the two are Malayalis.
The documentary, Panorama: Stadium of Hate, says the Metalist fans began to attack a small group of their own supporters. They were Indians studying in Ukraine. They sat in the family area of the stadium thinking it would be safe. The documentary has footage of the two speaking in the stadium’s medical room about how they were attacked.
“We were supporting the home team. Police are not helpful at all. It’s horrifying,” said one Malayali on the footage. “We were planning to go a bit early. They closed the two doors and we can’t go,” said the other.
Former England football captain Sol Campbell has also appeared in the documentary, advising the Africans and Asians to stay away from Euro.
“Stay home, watch it on TV... don't even risk it,” he said. He also said the Euro 2012 should not have been awarded to Poland and Ukraine, due to the racist and violent attitudes of some supporters. The British government has also advised the Euro 2012 fans of Afro-Caribbean or Asian descent to take extra care in Ukraine because of racially motivated attacks.
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