The Show Must Go On, Part V: Euro 2012, A Farce In The Making

Today, the quadrennial European national-side Championships, EURO 2012, kick off today in Poland and the Ukraine.

To say that this tournament should not take place is almost certainly kind to the present state of European soccer throughout the continent.

A small subset of examples:

• The tournament, and the two home nations therein, are beset by significant racism incidents committed by the "Ultras" (the violent fanatics) of many of the teams therein.  This was brought to light very well by the BBC's show Panorama, where, in "Stadiums of Hate", a BBC crew exposed most of Poland's and Ukraine's stadiums filled with venomous violence and racial hatred, including Nazi salutes and crosses all over the stadia as well as the fans.  One derby in Poland had the fans battling police before the kickoff of the match, because they couldn't battle the opposing fans, they being banned from the stadium for their safety!  (Sadly, I cannot tell you to go watch the entire program, as YouTube has been asked by the BBC (and probably UEFA as well) to remove the 24-minute program from the service, and has done so.)  A striking interview with Sol Campbell (an African-heritage English player, left off the squad due to a racism row with former captain John Terry) said that any fans of racial concern should avoid the tournament, lest they lose their lives in going.
• But these controversies reignited only the day before the tournament began when charges came down that African-heritage players for the Netherlands were called "monkeys" (a common racial slur used against African-heritage players in Eastern Europe) during a pre-tournament practice in Krakow, Poland.  UEFA denies the claims, and the standing story is that the 25,000 people present used the Dutch training session as a forum to protest that Krakow was not one of the sites for the tournament.  (And if you believe that, I have some wonderful swampland to sell you somewhere around Chernobyl.)
• Oh, I mentioned John Terry, didn't I?  England certainly does not escape the discussions surrounding this tournament, as Terry was finally included in the English squad, though not in his former captaincy, even though he faces an imminent criminal racism trial once the tournament ends!  This may well have caused the then-coach of the English side to be sacked (fired) by the Football Association, only for Terry to be placed on the team anyway by his successor?  No wonder no sane person should be taking England for any degree of a serious threat should this tournament be allowed to complete!
• Racism isn't the only huge negative clouding the beginning of this tournament.  There is serious discussion as to why the Italian team is even being allowed in the tournament at all, due to the nature of the continuing "Last Bet" investigations by Italian authorities into match-fixing, up to and including the highest club in the land, Juventus.  It has become so severe that one Juventus blog has reported that the premier of Italy wishes to see all soccer activities suspended in Italy for a period of two to three years (which would not only remove Italy from this Euro championship, but the next World Cup and probably the next Euros as well in 2016).  Only the full expulsion of Italy, one of Europe's premier soccer powers, from FIFA until the corruption is dealt with.  It has become so bad that the coach of Italy for this tournament actually said that he would not mind if the Italians were removed from the event entirely.  (This after a listless 3-0 loss to Russia.)  I point you to Declan Hill's continuing blog on soccer corruption for continuing news on the Italian story.
• And Italy is not the only nation with this going on.  Non-qualifiers Turkey have also seen their most prominent club (Febernache) have their head arrested, but Declan Hill reports that punishments may be far too lenient for the crimes.  Turkey has still not been held to true account for many crimes against soccer, and, though it is thankful that their national side is not in the tournament, a full set of officials is in the officiating pool for the EURO 2012 tournament!
• Tickets have not been selling well for many EURO 2012 matches.  The English seem to be taking Campbell's advice and not coming.  As a result, at least 10,000 tickets for matches in the Ukraine remain unsold as of Monday.  (Think of this with possibilities of the "Ultras" ruining the tournament entirely!)  In fact, one NBC report indicates there are still unsold tickets for the Grand Final match in Kiev!

So one has to wonder if the tournament is going to crash out before it ends!
And that's just a small subset of the issues