KIEV, May 29: European Championship co-hosts Kiev and Warsaw have decried as unfair a BBC report that portrayed their fans as racist, and UEFA reiterated that all foreign guests will be safe.

The BBC Panaroma documentary, titled “Euro 2012: Stadiums of Hate,” showed fans in Ukraine and Poland giving the Nazi salute and taunting black players with monkey noises. Asian students were also shown being attacked at Metalis Stadium in Kharkiv, one of the host venues.

Former England captain Sol Campbell said in the program broadcast on Monday in Britain that fans should not travel to those countries “because you could end up coming back in a coffin.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said: “Nobody who comes to Poland will be in any danger because of his race.”

“This is not our custom, as is not pointing out similar incidents in other countries, although we know they take place. In Poland, they’re a rarity,” he told a news conference in Rome.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Voloshyn said the program was unjust and smacked of arrogance and xenophobia as it portrayed “Eastern Europe as mentally not equal to the rest of Europe.”

“We believe this report is outrageous, done in the best traditions of Soviet journalism,” Voloshyn said. “Ukraine is one the leaders in Europe in terms of religious and racial tolerance.

“Nazi symbols can be seen at any match in England, but does it mean that fans should not come to London for the Olympics?”

Markian Lubkivsky, UEFA’s Euro 2012 director in Ukraine, said foreign fans coming to Ukraine would be safe.

“From UEFA’s point of view, I see no threats for citizens of various nationalities to stay in Ukraine,” Lubkivsky was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

He added Campbell’s statement was “vexing” for Ukraine.

In Poland, organisers PL.2012 said the warnings were unfair and had “nothing to do with reality”.

“The problem of stadium pathologies, such as xenophobia or racism, is a problem specific to the whole of Europe and not only to Poland,” said Mikolaj Piotrowski, a spokesman for the body. “As in every European country, it affects a small minority of those present at the stadiums — unfortunately, a minority that is usually loud and visible in the media.”

Referring to Campbell, he said, “Dear Sol, feel invited — feel like at home; in Poland, at our common Euro 2012. Get to know us as we really are.”

Commenting on the program, Campbell urged fans to not go to Poland and Ukraine for Euro 2012, which starts next week. “Stay at home, watch it on TV. Don’t even risk it,” said Campbell, who was black.

He added that European football’s governing body was wrong to award the tournament to Poland and Ukraine.“What they should say is, ‘If you want this tournament, you sort your problems out. Until we see a massive improvement ... you do not deserve these prestigious tournaments in your country,’” he said.

The families of two black England players — Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott — have said they would not risk going to Ukraine to watch England’s matches following public warnings from the British government.

Ukraine finds itself under increasing scrutiny and pressure as it prepares to host the championship. Besides the racism accusations, President Viktor Yanukovych is under harsh criticism for the politically tainted jailing of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

But Ukrainian players rallied to their country’s defence.

Striker Andriy Shevchenko, who formerly played for the English club Chelsea, said: “We do not have any real problems with racism here. Ukraine is a very peaceful country and people here are very friendly. I know that everything will be done for Euro 2012 to take place at a high level.”

Oleh Luzhny, who formerly played for London’s Arsenal, was quoted by the online publication Korrespondent.net as saying: “No, no and no again. I have never heard any talk about this problem (racism). We have Nigerian football players here and I have never heard about outbreaks of racism.”

In an apparent bid to pre-empt football-related violence, police in Poland on Monday arrested 42 people — including prominent members of football hooligan gangs — suspected of being involved in drug trafficking and extortion.—Agencies