Sports minister Hugh Robertson could boycott Ukraine during Euro 2012
Amnesty has highlighted what it described as “numerous cases in Euro
2012 host cities in which police have tortured people in an attempt
to extort money, extract a confession, or simply because of the victims’
sexuality or ethnic origin”.
John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s director for Europe and Central Asia,
delivered a stark warning for fans planning to travel to the tournament,
saying: “The Ukrainian government must take action now to stop widespread
police criminality. Failure to do so will encourage them to continue acting
as a law unto themselves and put Euro 2012 fans in danger from a force that
is out of control.”
Although the other co-host, Poland, has prepared a smooth delivery for the
tournament, Ukraine has presented a rocky road for Uefa’s quadrennial
showpiece.
After years of delayed preparations and failed infrastructure improvements,
the spotlight again fell on Ukraine last week when bombs exploded in
Tymoshenko’s home region, injuring dozens in what was an incident the UK
embassy in Kyiv declared as “unprecedented”.
The political row intensified on Wednesday when Germany’s foreign minister,
Guido Westerwelle, scorned the Ukrainian president. He said: “I already
wonder how Yanukovych can imagine celebrating carefree football matches in
Kharkiv, while Yulia Tymoshenko, right next door, does not receive
much-needed medical help. I can imagine vividly the reaction of viewers
around the world.”
Uefa, however, distanced itself from the row. A spokesman said: “Uefa has no
position and will not take any regarding the political situation in Ukraine,
and will not interfere with internal government matters.”