Soccer fans are getting into a sinful frenzy and transforming themselves into "monkeys" by watching Euro 2012 matches, a senior Ukrainian cleric said."The church does not bless the frenzy and psychosis that a person falls into when they watch these games," Filaret, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, said.
Filaret, whose branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox church has up to 10m followers, said his church supported sports and healthy lifestyle in general.
"Just look at these people’s faces," he said. "They are no longer human, they look more like monkeys than humans. That’s because they lose (emotional) balance.
"It is a sinful state when a man does not control himself. That is when they drink and fight. We are against that," the 83-year-old cleric said.
Ukraine is co-hosting the European Champion-ship with Poland at a time when Orthodox Christians are supposed to observe the Fast of the Holy Apostles and show emotional restraint.
Filaret said he was not following the games or rooting for the national team. "I have nothing to do with football... Thus, I do not support football (teams) but I support Ukraine. Football means nothing at all to me but I am paying attention to what it means for Ukraine," he said.
Filaret’s stance contrasted sharply with the position of the Polish Catholic Church, which has been welcoming fans and arranging special Masses.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the Archbishop of Krakow, revealed he prayed for Polish goal-keeper Przemyslaw Tyton, who made a stunning penalty save in their opening 1-1 draw with Greece after coming on as a substitute.
Filaret, whose branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox church has up to 10m followers, said his church supported sports and healthy lifestyle in general.
"Just look at these people’s faces," he said. "They are no longer human, they look more like monkeys than humans. That’s because they lose (emotional) balance.
"It is a sinful state when a man does not control himself. That is when they drink and fight. We are against that," the 83-year-old cleric said.
Ukraine is co-hosting the European Champion-ship with Poland at a time when Orthodox Christians are supposed to observe the Fast of the Holy Apostles and show emotional restraint.
Filaret said he was not following the games or rooting for the national team. "I have nothing to do with football... Thus, I do not support football (teams) but I support Ukraine. Football means nothing at all to me but I am paying attention to what it means for Ukraine," he said.
Filaret’s stance contrasted sharply with the position of the Polish Catholic Church, which has been welcoming fans and arranging special Masses.
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the Archbishop of Krakow, revealed he prayed for Polish goal-keeper Przemyslaw Tyton, who made a stunning penalty save in their opening 1-1 draw with Greece after coming on as a substitute.