Russian, Polish football fans clash in Warsaw

PanARMENIAN.Net - Polish riot police on Tuesday, June 12 fired warning shots into the air after two people were injured in violence at a march of Russian fans in the capital Warsaw, RIA Novosti reported.

The Russian supporters were walking en masse, 5,500 strong, to the National Stadium from the city center ahead of tonight's Euro 2012 clash against Poland.

An R-Sport correspondent at the scene reported that the violence started when groups of Polish fans attacked the Russian column, and one Russian and one Pole were injured and carried off for treatment by police.

The two countries have frayed political ties and both have problems with football hooliganism.

Several Polish fans were arrested after scuffles with police as the parade crossed a bridge in the center of the city, while another Pole was arrested after infiltrating the Russian parade and shouting inflammatory slogans.

Alexander Shprygin, head of the All-Russian Fans’ Union, is with the Russian fans and told R-Sport that Polish fans had thrown pyrotechnics at the Russians.

The Russian fans had not fought the Poles or the police, he said.

A police water cannon is in attendance, although it is not clear whether it has been used.