Dutch football fans unmoved by unrest in Ukraine

The bomb attacks in Ukraine last week and fears about the treatment of jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoschenko have not dampened football fans’ enthusiasm about the forthcoming European football championships, the Telegraaf reports on Tuesday.


MPs have called on the government to boycott the event in protest at the jailing of Tymoschenko, who is accused of abuse of office and tax evasion.
Jokko de Wit, who is organising the special campsite for Dutch fans in Ukraine, says he has not yet had any cancellations.
‘There were also concerns about safety two years ago when the World Cup was held in South Africa,’ he said. ‘But in our experience, fans are realistic. They want to spend their holiday at the European championships and nothing will change that.’
The Dutch football association KNVB is also monitoring the situation closely, the paper said.
Both EU Commission president José Manuel Barroso and justice commissioner Viviane Reding are boycotting the Ukraine matches and German chancellor Angela Merkel is also considering doing so, the BBC reports.
The Dutch group B campaign kicks off against Denmark on June 9, followed by Germany on June 13. The tournament runs from 8 June to 1 July.

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