WARSAW POLICE CONFIRMED that 184 people were arrested following the violent clashes which marred last night’s Euro 2012 match between Poland and Russia.
Police used an arsenal of tear gas, water cannon, rubber bullets and pepper spray before the match, which the authorities said posed the city’s “greatest ever” security challenge.
Eleven people were treated for minor injuries, BBC Sport’s Dan Roan reports.
Tension was stoked by centuries of bad blood and suspicion between the two countries, coupled with pockets of fans on both sides with a reputation for violence.
But the 1-1 result appeared to have eased the post-match mood, with no major incidents reported after midnight , as Poles celebrated their chance to advance in the 16-nation quadrennial tournament they are co-hosting with Ukraine.
Earlier, police sprayed water cannon at Polish fans near the stadium before the kick-off while tear gas was used in another area near the venue, which was encircled by a thick cordon of riot police with dogs and rubber-bullet guns.
Riot police and vans created a buffer as Russian fans began marching to the National Stadium across a central Warsaw bridge chanting “Russia, Russia” and waving white, blue and red national flags on what was also their national day.
Rubber bullets and pepper spray were also part of the anti-brawl arsenal authorities used to douse brawls, local media reported.
Some Polish fans yelled obscenities at the Russian marchers, who responded by hurling back bottles, but security forces swiftly managed to keep the situation in check.
Helicopters circled the city sky, as “vuvuzela” trumpets blared below and thousands of chanting Poland fans decked out in their national red and white also made their way in a loud but orderly fashion to the stadium.
Some 6,000 police are on duty in the capital for the duration of the tournament and Poland’s Euro 2012 organisers have said that 9,800 Russian and 29,300 Polish fans had tickets for Tuesday’s encounter.
Some 12,000 Russian fans were in the city for match day.
Before kick-off, Russia’s national anthem was met with jeers and whistles as the country’s supporters unfurled a giant flag emblazoned with a sword-wielding warrior and the words “This is Russia” from their enclosure in the stands.
- © AFP, 2012 (additional reporting by Niall Kelly)
Kick the Russian team out of the euro12.
If you do that using good football game, I will join you to see that.
So punish the masses for the actions of a few? That sounds reasonable.
It would force the Russian FA to sort out the violence.
and kick the polish team out too? ukraine, croatia, slovakia, poland, russia, is FULL of nazi hooligans!
the world is watching and the polish fans behave in such a way as to promote there worldwide image
Kick the poalish team out of the euro12!
So the guy in the red Polska t-shirt swings a slap at a randommer and three seconds later is seen to be out cold and being put into the recovery poition by a riot policeman —bummer. Instant karma, John lennon called it. Thuggery, all of it. And the police for all their numbers seemed to have little grasp on the situation.
Ha ha that lad in the red t-shirt got his comeuppance.
Authorities wanted keep event secure then they allow them to bring in 100 sq meter banner (surely didn’t fit under the jacket) “This is Russia”…gore average Pole this is worse than red rag for the charging bull. Not so many were able to handle emotions and ignore that clear provocation.
Yes, this is Russia, the team you play against. I assume that it’s a very big provocation to be Russian.
How are they supposed to check a banner that size though?
Angryzes: please… any half brain knows what that flag supposed to mean.
It means “This is Sparta”, rephrased. Also sends greets to one of the strongest Russian clubs named after Spartacus. We never pretended that Poland can stay as part of Russia, even during Soviet times, Poland was out of USSR.
Except for the bits that the USSR took after WWII and the fact that communism took hold in Poland after the Yalta conference. Also Poland remained in the Russian sphere of influence for decades after WWII.
Ah come on now, the banner was bloody brilliant.
Yes, but it was not part of Russia, not part of USSR even and they’re not USA too – but of course now they are in their sphere of influence, we see that now and have seen it before.
Well done with massive banner Russia!
The guy knocked unconsciously looked like he threw a punch moments earlier …
In soviet Russia, giant flag unfurls you!
I’m amazed that the robocops have kept so calm, fair play to them.
The poles are not in the last 16
Well technically they are… 4 groups of 4…
Fare play to Russian fans! That what we call True Fans! Well done!
That’s the last time red t-shirt guy will happy slap anyone! Boom