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Euro 2012: Football fans in Warsaw clash | Euro 2012: Football fans in Warsaw clash |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Clashes have broken out between rival Russian and Polish football fans in the Polish capital Warsaw ahead of a Euro 2012 tie between the two teams. | Clashes have broken out between rival Russian and Polish football fans in the Polish capital Warsaw ahead of a Euro 2012 tie between the two teams. |
A march by thousands of Russian fans to mark their national day had to be halted and some missiles were thrown. | A march by thousands of Russian fans to mark their national day had to be halted and some missiles were thrown. |
Police say 56 arrests were made and that seven people were injured in the violence. | |
Tensions are running high, given the centuries of rivalry between the two countries. | Tensions are running high, given the centuries of rivalry between the two countries. |
About 6,000 police were on duty to keep the rival fans apart. | |
The match began at 20:45 local time (18:45 GMT). | |
Beforehand, some Polish fans on a bridge on the march route had tried to attack the Russian fans and had been involved in scuffles, says the BBC's Alex Capstick in Warsaw. | |
It was relatively easy for police to contain clashes while the Russians fans were heading down a planned route, but it may more difficult when they spread across town later, our correspondent adds. | |
Tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon were used to disperse fans at the end of the march, according to Poland's state news agency. | |
In a separate incident, 50 Polish fans in masks attacked Russian fans in a Warsaw cafe, the Russian news agency Interfax reported. | In a separate incident, 50 Polish fans in masks attacked Russian fans in a Warsaw cafe, the Russian news agency Interfax reported. |
Controversial history | Controversial history |
Russia occupied Poland for more than a century and dominated it during the Cold War, after World War II. | Russia occupied Poland for more than a century and dominated it during the Cold War, after World War II. |
The conservative Polish opposition condemned the march as a provocation, but it was approved by the authorities. | The conservative Polish opposition condemned the march as a provocation, but it was approved by the authorities. |
The Russian national holiday marks Russia's declaration of sovereignty in 1990 - a key episode in the demise of the Soviet Union. | The Russian national holiday marks Russia's declaration of sovereignty in 1990 - a key episode in the demise of the Soviet Union. |
Polish media highlighted fears that some Russian fans may sport Soviet flags and symbols - a highly sensitive issue for the many Poles who deplored communist rule. | Polish media highlighted fears that some Russian fans may sport Soviet flags and symbols - a highly sensitive issue for the many Poles who deplored communist rule. |
"March or street war?" said a headline in the conservative Polish daily Rzeczpospolita. It quoted Wojciech Wisniewski, a member of the Polish Union of Football Fans, as saying "somebody really wants to make Polish football fans attack the Russians". | "March or street war?" said a headline in the conservative Polish daily Rzeczpospolita. It quoted Wojciech Wisniewski, a member of the Polish Union of Football Fans, as saying "somebody really wants to make Polish football fans attack the Russians". |
European football's governing body Uefa has opened disciplinary proceedings against Russia after a series of incidents involving the country's fans at Euro 2012. | European football's governing body Uefa has opened disciplinary proceedings against Russia after a series of incidents involving the country's fans at Euro 2012. |
Russian fans were caught on camera kicking and punching stewards inside the stadium at Wroclaw, in western Poland, after their team beat the Czech Republic 4-1 on Friday. Four stewards needed hospital treatment. | Russian fans were caught on camera kicking and punching stewards inside the stadium at Wroclaw, in western Poland, after their team beat the Czech Republic 4-1 on Friday. Four stewards needed hospital treatment. |
Anti-racist monitors at the match said a section of the crowd racially abused the Czech Republic's only black player, Theodor Gebre Selassie. | Anti-racist monitors at the match said a section of the crowd racially abused the Czech Republic's only black player, Theodor Gebre Selassie. |
In a statement on Monday, Russian football association said: "We urge all football fans now in Poland to remember that they represent Russia. Please respect yourselves, your country and your team." | In a statement on Monday, Russian football association said: "We urge all football fans now in Poland to remember that they represent Russia. Please respect yourselves, your country and your team." |