12

Sun ‘exposes racism in Russia’ with video of nazi Ukrainian football fans

DynamoKievUltras.jpg

RT reports:

It appears the UK tabloid, The Sun, needs a lesson in geography after it posted a video of controversial Ukrainian football fan group White Boys Club, who wear KKK capes, and paint swastikas on their clothes under the title ‘Racism in Russia’. 
The video was an edited version of a clip posted on YouTube, which shows Ukrainian ultras – hardcore fans of Dynamo Kiev – putting on a visual display during a home match against their biggest rivals, another Ukrainian team, Shakhtar Donetsk last week.
Despite being incorrect, the caption was not removed from the website for several hours.
It is not clear whether this was an innocent geographical error on the part of The Sun, which has been running a campaign warning of hooliganism at next year’s World Cup in Russia.
An accompanying article about the display also made no mention of the fact that the events were taking place in Ukraine.
Behind a sign emblazoned with ‘100 percent white,’ several thousand ultras – many wearing retro hockey goalkeepers masks and overalls – launch pyrotechnics, break into chants, and perform choreographed routines.

Boys’ songs are directed against Russia, while foreign players, particularly darker-skinned ones, are frequently subjected to whistles and boos.
Various such movements, often modeled on English ‘football firms’ and flare-launching and banner-waving Italian ultras, sprung up in the former Soviet Union in the late 1980s.
While the name White Boys Club also refers to Dynamo’s club colors, the organizers do not deny that they have grown hand-in-hand with nationalist and far-right movements, and the badges sold by the group feature a Nazi-era heraldic eagle.
Since the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, fans have officially put an end to their altercations, and instead have united in supporting the country against “Russian aggression.”

Related:

UK tabloid distorts traditional Russian pancake festival into ‘Ultra’ football thug fights


SUPPORT OFFGUARDIAN

If you enjoy OffG's content, please help us make our monthly fund-raising goal and keep the site alive.

For other ways to donate, including direct-transfer bank details click HERE.

Categories: latest, Media Criticism