The Reckoning

William Hague is proving to be a fairly competent Foreign Secretary. He has done some pretty good quiet work on Syria of late and had taken a public stand on issues where no doubt his officials have suggested a bland communique instead.

The Ministerial boycott of the Euro 2012 to protest at the imprisonment and ill-treatment of former PM Yulia Tymoshenko (pictured) is a good principled stand. It is also yet another of the countless reasons why the 2012 tournment will be a PR disaster for the game and for English FA in particular.

It comes as no surprise at all to learn of Netherlands team being subjected to racist chants although before the tournament starts shows this is merely a taster.Teams like France and England have several black players but even Sweden and German have enough to spark the racists into action.

Of course any subsequent protests by the FA can be countered by pointing a finger at our one reminang centre-back John Terry awaiting trial on racism charges and the obvious 'political' exclusion of the blameless and highly experienced Rio Ferdinand.

UEFA and FIFA have never really got to grips with actual racism, celebrity players wearing anti racist T-shirts does not change social attitudes. Poland and Ukraine should never have been given this tournment to host. Their officials, politicians and police are in denial there is any kind of problem. Such complacency and corruption will yield its inevitable outcome of violence, hatred and victimisation. This is not the beautiful game.