Before the 2006 World Cup in Germany we were told by certain sections of the English media that neo-Nazi gangs would terrorize visitors. Two years ago South Africa would, allegedly, be a machete-wielding war zone.
In fact both tournaments passed off without any major incidents. Now Euro 2012 is in the spotlight and last Monday's Panorama on BBC television warned those of Asian and black backgrounds to expect to be targeted by right-wing fascists in Poland and Ukraine.
Some of the television footage from local derbies in the two countries was frightening and there remains a worrying ignorance in Eastern Europe about racism. The so-called excuse that this is because there is no history of black people there merely underlines the deep-rooted problem.