AFP

WARSAW EUROPEAN football’s governing body on Wednesday condemned clashes between rival supporters at the highly charged Euro 2012 match between co-hosts Poland and old rivals Russia in Warsaw.

“UEFA condemns the isolated incidents that occurred yesterday (Tuesday)... when some groups of known troublemaker pelted the police with missiles and attacked fans irrespective of the team they were supporting,” it said in an emailed statement.

“Those arrested and charged will have to be dealt with by the relevant authorities.” The match, which ended 1-1, was played amid tight security and a fiercely political backdrop, with both countries’ recent and past history intertwined and lingering resentment among the Poles creating an intense sporting rivalry.

Tuesday was also Russia’s national day and some 10,000 Russian fans with tickets for the encounter marched to the stadium in what was thought to be the biggest number of Russians on Warsaw’s streets since the end of World War II.

Police said they had arrested 157 Poles and 24 Russians, as well as a Spaniard, a Hungarian and an Algerian, in the violence, which saw riot squad officers use water cannon and fire tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse marauding fans.

Ten police officers were treated for injuries, as well as 10 fans. Poland’s sports minister Joanna Mucha described the violence as “shocking” while Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it involved “several hundred idiots from both sides”, vowing to “teach them all a lesson” through the courts.

The end of the match at the National Stadium saw hundreds of riot police amass in front of the Russia fans at the final whistle.

UEFA said it aimed to “create a welcoming environment coupled with a low-profile approach to policing”.

It added: “The focus should be on facilitating the enjoyment of the matches by genuine football fans and isolating the tiny percentage of troublemaker.” Russia play again in Warsaw on Saturday against Greece while Poland play the Czech Republic in Wroclaw, southwest Poland. The final takes place in the capital of co-hosts Kiev on July 1
Meanwhile, UEFA on Wednesday fined Røussia 120,000 euros after its fans set off and threw fireworks at the country’s first Euro 2012 match and threatened to dock points off its next qualifying campaign if supporters misbehave.

“The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body has today (Wednesday) decided to impose a deduction of six points on the Football Union of Russia (RFS) in the qualifying round of the next UEFA European Football Championship,” it said in a statement.

“This decision is suspended for a probationary period running from now until the end of the play-offs of the next UEFA European Football Championship (UEFA Euro 2016).