Udo Merkel is a German social scientist who spent most of his life working at HE institutions in England, UK. He has a keen interest in the political economy of football, politics and sociology of sport, mega sports events as a foreign policy and diplomatic tools, globalisation, comparative European sport studies, and fan cultures. Now semi-retired, Udo is based in Spain and works as a consultant and independent critical scholar.

• 1. Introduction: Key contexts, terms and nomenclature. 2. Conceptual and theoretical considerations: Racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and Islamophobia. 3. England: Islamophobia in English professional and amateur football: A blind spot. 4. France: Les Bleus and the Republic: Diversity, difference and discrimination. 5. Germany: Tensions and contradictions in football: Integration versus discrimination. 6. Italy: Racism, xenophobia, and the North-South divide in football. 7. The Netherlands: Racism and policy responses in Dutch football: A critical evaluation. 8. Poland: Nationalism, racism, xenophobia and football fan sub-cultures: Historical developments and contemporary issues. 9. Portugal: Making sense of and tackling racism in football. 10. Scotland: Sectarianism as racism in football? The cut and thrust of an ongoing debate. 11. Spain: Understanding and fighting racism in football: A story of ignorance and half-heartedness. 12. Sweden: Swedish society and football at odds with each other – So open, yet so closed. 13. Europe (I): Supranational political and policy responses to racism and discrimination in football. 14. Europe (II): Comparative observations: Commonalities and differences.

Udo Merkel is a German social scientist who spent most of his life working at HE institutions in England, UK. He has a keen interest in the political economy of football, politics and sociology of sport, mega sports events as a foreign policy and diplomatic tools, globalisation, comparative European sport studies, and fan cultures. Now semi-retired, Udo is based in Spain and works as a consultant and independent critical scholar.

• 1. Introduction: Key contexts, terms and nomenclature. 2. Conceptual and theoretical considerations: Racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and Islamophobia. 3. England: Islamophobia in English professional and amateur football: A blind spot. 4. France: Les Bleus and the Republic: Diversity, difference and discrimination. 5. Germany: Tensions and contradictions in football: Integration versus discrimination. 6. Italy: Racism, xenophobia, and the North-South divide in football. 7. The Netherlands: Racism and policy responses in Dutch football: A critical evaluation. 8. Poland: Nationalism, racism, xenophobia and football fan sub-cultures: Historical developments and contemporary issues. 9. Portugal: Making sense of and tackling racism in football. 10. Scotland: Sectarianism as racism in football? The cut and thrust of an ongoing debate. 11. Spain: Understanding and fighting racism in football: A story of ignorance and half-heartedness. 12. Sweden: Swedish society and football at odds with each other – So open, yet so closed. 13. Europe (I): Supranational political and policy responses to racism and discrimination in football. 14. Europe (II): Comparative observations: Commonalities and differences.

Udo Merkel is a German social scientist who spent most of his life working at HE institutions in England, UK. He has a keen interest in the political economy of football, politics and sociology of sport, mega sports events as a foreign policy and diplomatic tools, globalisation, comparative European sport studies, and fan cultures. Now semi-retired, Udo is based in Spain and works as a consultant and independent critical scholar.

• 1. Introduction: Key contexts, terms and nomenclature. 2. Conceptual and theoretical considerations: Racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and Islamophobia. 3. England: Islamophobia in English professional and amateur football: A blind spot. 4. France: Les Bleus and the Republic: Diversity, difference and discrimination. 5. Germany: Tensions and contradictions in football: Integration versus discrimination. 6. Italy: Racism, xenophobia, and the North-South divide in football. 7. The Netherlands: Racism and policy responses in Dutch football: A critical evaluation. 8. Poland: Nationalism, racism, xenophobia and football fan sub-cultures: Historical developments and contemporary issues. 9. Portugal: Making sense of and tackling racism in football. 10. Scotland: Sectarianism as racism in football? The cut and thrust of an ongoing debate. 11. Spain: Understanding and fighting racism in football: A story of ignorance and half-heartedness. 12. Sweden: Swedish society and football at odds with each other – So open, yet so closed. 13. Europe (I): Supranational political and policy responses to racism and discrimination in football. 14. Europe (II): Comparative observations: Commonalities and differences.