UEFA steps up vigilance at training grounds
Monday, June 11, 2012
Article summary
UEFA has written to the mayors of the relevant Polish and Ukrainian cities to ask that measures be implemented to prevent discriminatory or racist behaviour at open training sessions.
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Further to an incident that occurred at a Dutch national team training session on 8 June, UEFA has written to the mayors of the Polish and Ukrainian cities where open training sessions are scheduled to take place to ask that all effective and necessary measures – including an increased police presence – be implemented to prevent any display of discriminatory or racist behaviour at such public sessions.
UEFA has also requested that the authorities ensure that any person found to be engaging in racist behaviour be immediately ejected from the stadium and its vicinity, and that criminal proceedings be launched against such individuals.
A letter was also sent to the sports minister of Poland, Joanna Mucha, to ask for the full support of the Polish authorities in dealing with these important matters.
While to date there has been only one isolated incident, any such behaviour is totally incompatible with UEFA's zero-tolerance policy towards any type of discriminatory conduct. UEFA is nevertheless confident that the local authorities will deal adequately with the issue.
