UK officials boycott England games in Ukraine

[tototoner]

politics and sport

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18351326

UK officials are boycotting England's three group games in the European football championships over Ukraine's treatment of a jailed opposition leader, Downing Street has confirmed.

The move is in protest at the "selective justice" being handed out to Yulia Tymoshenko.

Attendance at later matches, such as the final in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, is to be kept "under review".

Other EU leaders have threatened to boycott games over the issue.

Ms Tymoshenko played a key role in the Orange Revolution in 2004 and says her imprisonment is an act of political revenge by Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych.

The authorities have rejected Ms Tymoshenko's allegations. She was jailed for seven years in October, for abuse of power during her time as prime minister.

Last week, she ended a 20-day hunger strike after being moved to a hospital in Kharkiv where she is being treated by a German doctor.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "The government fully supports England's participation in Euro 2012.

"We hope this is a successful tournament for the England team, the fans, and the people of Ukraine and Poland.

"No ministers will be attending group games at Euro 2012.

"We are keeping attendance at later stages of the tournament under review in the light of ministers' busy schedules ahead of the Olympics and widespread concerns about selective justice and the rule of law in Ukraine."

 

[antiloqus]

That'll show 'em.

 

[SugarRay]

Attendances at later matches are to be reviewed...I suspect I know the answer to that little quandry should it arise!

Seriously, how can you take a stance then in the next sentence say 'well if England reach the final we may come and watch anyway'!!!?

I'm glad they aren't going. Too many real fans miss out on the chance for tickets as it is. Keep the freeloaders out I say

 

[markiespurs]

Attendances at later matches are to be reviewed...I suspect I know the answer to that little quandry should it arise!

Seriously, how can you take a stance then in the next sentence say 'well if England reach the final we may come and watch anyway'!!!?

I'm glad they aren't going. Too many real fans miss out on the chance for tickets as it is. Keep the freeloaders out I say

Judging by the amount of tickets that are still unsold, they might as well give them to freeloaders this time

 

[SugarRay]

True, it's not as popular this year. I have an excuse for not going...getting married and on honeymoon ( I know, I know, schoolboy error )

Think South Africa killed off the interest of a few. I renewed my Englandfans membership though the other day. Plan on going to Brazil ( providing we qualify of course! )

 

[talkshowhost86]

I bet the Ukraine thought having the Euros would be great for their reputation....seems to be going pretty well for them so far.

Still at least no other upcoming tournaments are in corrupt nations with serious political/human rights issues.

 

[DuDe]

Remember this row over Microsoft in Poland?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8221896.stm

Microsoft in web photo racism row

Software giant Microsoft has apologised for editing a photo to change a black man's head to that of a white man.


The picture, showing employees sitting around a desk, appeared unaltered on the firm's US website.

But on the website of its Polish business unit the black man's head was replaced with a white face, although the colour of his hands was unchanged.

Microsoft said it had pulled the image and would be investigating who made the changes. It apologised for the gaffe.
The altered image, which also featured an Asian man and a white woman, was quickly circulated online.

Bloggers have had a field day with the story, with some suggesting Microsoft was attempting to please all markets by having a man with both a white face and a black hand.

"The white head and black hand actually symbolise interracial harmony. It is supposed to show that a person can be white and black, old and young at the same time," said one blogger on the Photoshop Disasters blog.

Others have suggested the ethnic make-up of the Polish population, which is predominantly white, may have played a part in the decision to change the photo.

 

[DuDe]

My point with the above post is that it's not like any of this stuff is new news.