Ukraine has been rocked by allegations of racism and a call by a former England soccer star to not attend matches here because fans might return ''in a coffin.'' Ukrainian officials angrily deny the claims and promise a warm welcome to fans.
Dozens of fans wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the words ''Football Unites'' played five-minute matches in the Euro 2012 fan zone set up on Kiev's main avenue. Hundreds of spectators cheered and applauded the players.
Dan Nott, a 30-year old geography student from Bristol, England, said the project aims to ''unite people across the world, to say no to racism.
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