England fans to shun 'dowdy' Ukraine as only 3,000 Euro 2012 tickets sold so far

London, May 11(ANI): England fans are apprehensive about visiting the Ukrainian mining city of Donetsk due to various reasons.

So, deep is the apprehension that only 3000 of the 9000 tickets for Euro 2012 have been sold.ngland is playing two of its three opening group games at the Donbass Arena next month.

A thousand more fans are expected at England's other group match in Ukraine's capital Kiev, which would make it the lowest ever for a Euro tournament.

Fans have been discouraged by the dowdy host cities, travel headaches, swindling hotel prices and not so fancied England's prospects.

They are also chary of the threat from local hooligans, including neo-Nazi thugs out to target ethnic fans, and Ukraine's heavy-handed police.

"A strikingly low number of England fans are traveling from the UK. It's hard to remember so few going abroad to support the team," The Sun quoted international director of the Football Supporters' Federation Kevin Miles, as saying.

"Ukraine is expensive and difficult to get around. And in truth, this is hardly the South of France or Portugal, or as brilliantly organised and accessible as Germany,' he added.

"Donetsk is a mining town not exactly famed for its myriad of tourist attractions. I'm also not sensing a tidal wave of enthusiasm about England's prospects," he said. (ANI)