Skift Take

The downside of any global gathering is when events go off-script. Ukraine is no doubt both breathing a sigh of relief and re-evaluating their own procedures in light of Poland's violence.

Source: Daily Telegraph

A thrilling 1-1 draw between old adversaries Poland and Russia was marred by the worst fan violence of the European Championship so far on Tuesday, with 123 fans arrested after running street battles in Warsaw.

Riot police, still on the streets in big numbers after the game, were pelted with missiles including rocks, flares and bottles, firing tear gas and rubber bullets at fans after fighting broke out on the bridge across the Vistula river leading to the national stadium prior to the match.

On the ground in Warsaw, Telegraph reporter Luke Edwards praised the police for their swift and decisive action whenever any violence did break out around the city.

“When there was any sign of trouble they really did move in very very quickly and in vast numbers. Heavy-handed policing may be how we would describe it but I think they knew this was a combustible situation,” he said.

The contest always promised to be a highly-charged affair due to centuries of conflict between the two countries and the Soviet domination of Poland after World War two.

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Tags: events, poland

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