violent clashes between Russian and Polish fans at Euro 2012
Russian and Polish football fans were involved in violent street fights ahead of last night's Euro 2012 meeting between the two national sides in Warsaw.
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.
‘It was just a free for all and a disgrace,’ said one eyewitness. ‘Innocent people were running and screaming just to get away from these men who behaved like animals.
'They were kicking out at each other, in the face and the body as they lay on the ground.’
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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