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13 June, 2012, 03:07 | Reuters
At least ten people have been injured as Polish and Russian football fans clashed in
Warsaw ahead of the teams’ 1-1 draw.
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NALvZlBrLkk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Russian and Polish football fans clashed violently last night before their national sides met
in Warsaw for a Euro 2012 match. Police fired rubber bullets and used water cannon on the
hooligans who fought running battles in the streets of the Polish capital.
The trouble flared during a march by 5,000 Russian fans observing a national day that
marks the end of the Soviet Union. Punches, bottles and missiles were thrown despite the
attentions of 6,000 officers. The Poles are said to have used a bridge to ambush their rivals.
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xxJvdImPtG8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
In a separate incident, around 50 Polish fans wearing masks attacked Russian rivals in a
Warsaw cafe.
Tensions were already running high with home fans having mocked the Russians over a
Polish army victory in 1920. The two countries are uneasy neighbours with Russia having
occupied Poland for more than a century and dominating the country after the Second
World War.
The Russia Day marchers were waving Soviet flags – a provocative symbol to many Poles.
Football governing body Uefa has already begun disciplinary proceedings against Russian
fans caught on film kicking and punching stewards near a walkway at the Wroclaw stadium
after their side beat the Czech Republic 4-1.
The two countries share a difficult history, including decades of control by Moscow over
Poland during the Cold War. Many Poles felt the Polish authorities should not have allowed
the Russians to march as a group in Warsaw given the historical wounds.
At least ten people have been injured as Polish and Russian football fans clashed in
Warsaw ahead of the teams’ 1-1 draw.
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NALvZlBrLkk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Russian and Polish football fans clashed violently last night before their national sides met
in Warsaw for a Euro 2012 match. Police fired rubber bullets and used water cannon on the
hooligans who fought running battles in the streets of the Polish capital.
The trouble flared during a march by 5,000 Russian fans observing a national day that
marks the end of the Soviet Union. Punches, bottles and missiles were thrown despite the
attentions of 6,000 officers. The Poles are said to have used a bridge to ambush their rivals.
<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xxJvdImPtG8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
In a separate incident, around 50 Polish fans wearing masks attacked Russian rivals in a
Warsaw cafe.
Tensions were already running high with home fans having mocked the Russians over a
Polish army victory in 1920. The two countries are uneasy neighbours with Russia having
occupied Poland for more than a century and dominating the country after the Second
World War.
The Russia Day marchers were waving Soviet flags – a provocative symbol to many Poles.
Football governing body Uefa has already begun disciplinary proceedings against Russian
fans caught on film kicking and punching stewards near a walkway at the Wroclaw stadium
after their side beat the Czech Republic 4-1.
The two countries share a difficult history, including decades of control by Moscow over
Poland during the Cold War. Many Poles felt the Polish authorities should not have allowed
the Russians to march as a group in Warsaw given the historical wounds.
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