By Mark Baber
October 27 – Whilst UEFA and FARE investigate the incident at the Champions League game between Dynamo Kiev and Chelsea on October 20 which saw some Kiev fans attack four black supporters in their own ranks, the head of Kiev’s Olimpiysky stadium has suggested those attacked brought the trouble upon themselves by sitting too close to members of an Ultra group and agreed with a 2+2 Ukrainian media suggestion that a “black section” in the stadium might solve the problem.
Vladimir Spilnichenko, the Olimpiysky stadium executive director said the incident at the Chelsea game was not the first time black people had stirred up trouble by sitting in the wrong place, claiming, “In the course of the previous [Champions League] match against FC Porto, the dark-skinned people also appeared near the ultras’ stands. They were met by fans themselves and guided to the other end of the stadium.”
In remarks to Ukraine’s 2+2 channel, which appeared online on Monday, Spilnichenko said: “The administration of the arena and its security officials approached those dark-skinned guys and even offered them to change seats for those on the central stands where the tickets are more expensive. But our requests were ignored.”
The 2+2 correspondent, whose channel has the rights to broadcast matches of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League of season for seasons 2012-2015, then suggested a solution to curb “provocations” by the black fans, saying that maybe a “special stand” should be made for them at the Olimpiysky Stadium.
Spilnichenko agreed that this was “a good idea,” adding “We’ll most likely consider you proposal. We’ll do well by them (the black fans) and maybe create a separate stand in order to avoid racism.”
Ukraine Football Federation vice-president Ohor Kochetov has also questioned the motives of the black fans attacked reportedly saying: “[The presence of the black fans] in the sector that is always occupied by the “Rodychi” ultras is highly surprising to everyone.”
Kochetov claimed, without producing any evidence, that “People of that category [black people] have never been there. Initial information indicates that these people were without tickets and were holding flares.”
According to Kochetov: “Maybe this was a specially planned provocation. These are all questions that require answers.”
The attack on the black fans has caused an international uproar after FARE took the unusual step of releasing a video to the media because of the seriousness of the incident.
Local Ukrainian media have widely condemned the incident, with an editorial in the Tribuna newspaper suggesting that, after a string of incidents of racism, Dynamo should be thrown out of the Champions League on the basis that, “if Dynamo is spared, the federation will continue to do nothing, because they do not know what to do. The clubs will continue to turn a blind eye because they do not want to get involved in a conflict. Ultras will continue to make ‘Sieg Heil’ salutes and beat up black people, because this is currently in fashion. The problem will be addressed and the perpetrators will be punished only when the clubs and all supporters are seriously affected, and the scandal is discussed on every street corner.”
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