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.
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.
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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.
Euro 2012: 184 arrested in Warsaw violence
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)
In pictures: Polish and Russian fans engage in violent clashes
VIDEO: Brawls erupt before Poland-Russia Euro 2012 game
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