I thought I knew and understood the worst of what went on in football stadiums in eastern Europe. Until I watched last night's Panorama on BBC1. The programme, on racism in Poland and Ukraine, featured massed ranks of fans sieg-heiling and referring to Jews in derogatory terms, black players being monkey chanted and Indian students being kicked around a stadium.
Having seen that footage and other similar films, the question now is what ethnic minority fans and the families of black England players should do for Euro 2012 – go or not go?
The Foreign Office advises black and Asian visitors to Ukraine to "take extra care". Former England captain Sol Campbell responded to the Panorama footage by suggesting we watch the tournament at home or risk "coming back in a coffin".
Football culture in many parts of eastern Europe has problems that are deep-seated and barely hidden – racism, neo-nazism and a profound hatred of gay people. Some of our monitoring shows the role football plays in perpetuating hate crimes. We found almost 200 incidents of racism and antisemitism in Polish and Ukrainian stadiums during an 18-month period to September 2011.
But there are two other factors not to be ignored. Part of this story is the rebuilding and preparation that has taken place by Uefa for the Euros; and part of it is the difference between the two host countries.
Most of the Euro 2012 stadiums are newly built or refurbished. They are well-equipped arenas with decent stewarding and security provisions. Home fans who go to big tournaments are often different to those who attend domestic games, they are usually older and more eager to present their country in the best light. Remember the media stories before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, predicting riots and security problems? The trouble didn't materialise, but a fantastic World Cup did.
Poland is a member of the EU, one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, with a good public infrastructure and tourist-friendly cities. Ukraine is a slightly different proposition. Although designated as "free" and democratic, there are allegations of political corruption and a lack of open dialogue. It also has an ageing infrastructure that makes travel and communication more difficult. Both countries are mono-cultural.
There is, however, nothing in FARE's knowledge of either country that has changed significantly since they were awarded the 2012 championships. The tournament has been taken east partly because the aspiration is that the legacy will increase understanding between people, through the conduit of sport. There wasn't too much understanding visible in the programme last night, but there is now a public debate about how sport can bring about tolerance and social integration.
Our partners in eastern Europe, the Never Again Association, who are among the most active human rights NGOs in the area, will have monitors at every ground during the tournament. Uefa says it will take strong disciplinary action if they receive reports of any level of discrimination. And referees have been told to stop games if mass racism is an issue: a game of football does not come before the degradation of human beings.
But is all this enough to make ethnic minorities feel comfortable? And what about the safety of black England players and their families?
The FA, which takes on liability as employer of the players for the tournament, must be vigilant and see through complaints if black players are abused during games. In the past this has not always happened. And it is unthinkable that the families of Theo Walcott or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain miss out on an event of this kind because of the fear of racism, when the FA have plentiful access to plane seats and hotel rooms.
I am going to Euro 2012 and I know a few other black and Asian fans also going. But after the vivid evidence presented in last night's Panorama programme, I cannot encourage others to do the same until there are assurances on safety inside stadiums and in city centres. Zero tolerance of racism and xenophobia should mean just that, it is not simply a hard-hitting phrase.
