Nationalism and footballing sympathies came to a head in Warsaw on Tuesday prior to the second leg of the EURO 2012 group stages, in a match between historical and political rivals Russia and Poland in their first meeting since 2007. Poland is co-hosting the continental tournament along with neighboring Ukraine.
About 5,000 Russian nationalists marched through Warsaw to commemorate Russia Day- an annual celebration and Russian national holiday marking Russian sovereignty from the Soviet Union and the formation of the current Russian Federation. The celebration had been approved in advance by Polish authorities and marchers were flanked by Polish riot police in the event of any skirmishes. Violence broke out when Polish supporters attacked the marchers on Poniatowski Bridge en route to the National Stadium ahead of the match. About 100 hooligans began throwing rocks, bottles, and other debris towards the crowd of marchers before small groups began to scuffle and the larger group dispersed. Polish supporters were said to have been shouting insults at the Russians calling them, “Russian whores,” and, “Red trash”; some were carrying a banner saying, “Polish President murdered in Russia,” in reference to the 2010 plane crash in Russia that killed then Polish President Lech Kaczynski along with 95 others.
Riot police began to fire teargas and rubber bullets in the direction of the rioters getting them to disperse. Polish officials say that those who engaged in fights were organized groups of hooligans and that the events had been pre-meditated. At the end of the day police made 56 arrests and ten people were seriously injured- seven Poles, two Russians, and one German- though none are considered fatal injuries.
This is the second case of football violence involving Russian supporters since the beginning of the tournament last Friday, when supporters of the Czech Republic were attacked by a group of Russians in Wroclaw, Poland following a 4-1 Russian victory. The Russian Football Association is already facing punishment by UEFA for the incident and has called for obedience from its fans attending the games in Poland. “We believe that some people who were present at the stadium (behaved) unworthy of the true football fans,” stated Russian FA officials. “Those who choose the sports arena for the declaration of personal, political, and other positions have no place in the stands. We appeal to all fans who are in Poland. Remember that you represent your country. Respect yourself, your home, and your team.”
Some will question the wisdom of staging a match between the rival nations on a day that incites nationalism such as Russian Day, especially considering the troubled political history between the neighbors. However, that was the case when the draw was determined on December 2, 2011.
In the twentieth-century alone the nations have fought numerous wars. In 1918 following World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution, Poles stopped Lenin’s Red Army at Warsaw preventing the spread of communism to Western Europe. Prior to World War II Poland was divided between the Soviet Union and Germany under the Hitler-Stalin Pact. After an unsuccessful revolution by Poles during the occupation, 20,000 Polish officers were killed by Stalin’s Red Army in the Katyn Massacre. Following World War II, Poland was ceded to the Soviet Union by the United States and Great Britain and was made into a communist republic by Josef Stalin. Poland did not gain full sovereignty until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989.
Following the riots outside the stadium, the match went on as planned inside Poland’s national stadium. 50,000 Polish and 20,000 Russian supporters intermingled without incident throughout the match, which was attended by current Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski. There was minimal nastiness on the field between players as well, although there were a few questionable calls in favor of the home side by German referee Wolfgang Stark. A win in the match would have guaranteed Russia the top spot in Group A. Victory looked to be the case after Russia’s youngest player, Alan Dzagoev, scored a header- his third goal of the tournament- off an Andrei Arshavin free kick in the 37’. The 1-0 lead held until the 57’, when Poland’s captain Jakub Blaszczykowsi blasted a goal to the far post from just outside the box.
The 1-1 draw and the earlier 2-1 victory by the Czech Republic over Greece leaves Group A wide open for any team to take the top two spots and advance to the knockout round. The final and deciding matches in the group will be played simultaneously this Saturday with Poland against Czech Republic in Wroclaw and Russia against Greece in Warsaw.
Image: Reuters
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