FORMER ARSENAL DEFENDER Sol Campbell believes England fans should not travel to the European Championships because of the danger posed by hooligans.
England have been grouped with France, Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine and are due to play their three matches in Kyiv and Donetsk.
Concerns have been voiced over elements of racist violence, neo-Nazism and anti-Semitism among fans of Polish and Ukrainian clubs and, speaking as part of a BBC Panorama documentary due to be aired later tonight, the ex-England defender, who won 73 senior caps and captained the national team, said European football governing body UEFA should never have chosen the country to host Euro 2012.
“What they (UEFA) should say is: ‘Until we see a massive improvement that you have sorted out you’re never going to get this tournament,” Campbell said. “You do not deserve these prestigious tournaments in your country.”
He went on to advise people thinking about travelling over to support Roy Hodgson’s team to do otherwise.
Stay at home and watch it on TV. Don’t even risk it. You could end up coming back in a coffin.”
Watch a graphic excerpt from tonight’s Panorama here:
YouTube credit: BhamUrbanNewsUK
Panorama: Euro 2012 – Stadiums of Hate will be broadcast on BBC One at 8.30pm tonight.
