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More Than 20 Injured, 184 Arrested After Russian, Polish Fans Clash

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Russian, Polish Football Fans Clash In Warsaw
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Polish authorities say police arrested at least 184 people, most of them Poles, during clashes in Warsaw between Polish and Russian fans before and after the June 12 match between the two nations at Euro 2012.

Officials said more than 20 people were injured in the violence, including police officers and citizens of Poland, Russia, the United States, Germany, and Pakistan.

In addition to nearly 160 Poles who were arrested, those detained included Russians, a Spaniard, a Hungarian, and an Algerian.

A Polish government spokesman said more arrests of suspects are expected as investigators analyze videos of the unrest.

Police used water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse clashes between the opposing fans before and after the Group A match, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Polish authorities had authorized a march by Russian fans to the stadium, which was to coincide with a Russian national holiday.

City authorities had appealed for calm in Warsaw ahead of the game, and the head of the Russia fan association had said the march would not be political in content.

PHOTO GALLERY: Fans clash ahead of Poland-Russia match

Russian, Polish Supporters Clash In Warsaw

A Polish soccer fan is moved by riot police protecting Russian fans marching to the National Stadium in Warsaw.
1/17 A Polish soccer fan is moved by riot police protecting Russian fans marching to the National Stadium in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
Polish protesters walk with a placard reading "Russians and Poles, remember who is the killer!" and depicting Soviet dictator Josef Stalin during a rally in Warsaw.
2/17 Polish protesters walk with a placard reading "Russians and Poles, remember who is the killer!" and depicting Soviet dictator Josef Stalin during a rally in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
A Polish journalist (second from right) is beaten by soccer fans in Warsaw.
3/17 A Polish journalist (second from right) is beaten by soccer fans in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
Polish riot police shoot rubber bullets during clashes with soccer fans before the match between Poland and Russia in Warsaw.
4/17 Polish riot police shoot rubber bullets during clashes with soccer fans before the match between Poland and Russia in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
A Polish soccer fan shows a wound from a rubber bullet during clashes with police and Russian fans in Warsaw.
5/17 A Polish soccer fan shows a wound from a rubber bullet during clashes with police and Russian fans in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
Riot police react after Polish and Russian football fans clash in Warsaw.
6/17 Riot police react after Polish and Russian football fans clash in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
An injured Polish soccer fan lies on the ground after clashing with Russian supporters in Warsaw.
7/17 An injured Polish soccer fan lies on the ground after clashing with Russian supporters in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
Polish riot police stand guard next to soccer fans that have been arrested following clashes before the match between Poland and Russia in Warsaw.
8/17 Polish riot police stand guard next to soccer fans that have been arrested following clashes before the match between Poland and Russia in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
Polish and Russian soccer fans clash outside the National Stadium in Warsaw.
9/17 Polish and Russian soccer fans clash outside the National Stadium in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
Polish soccer fans shout at Russian supporters as they walk protected by Polish riot police in Warsaw.
10/17 Polish soccer fans shout at Russian supporters as they walk protected by Polish riot police in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
Russian soccer fans walk, protected by Polish riot police in Warsaw.
11/17 Russian soccer fans walk, protected by Polish riot police in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
Graffiti seen in Warsaw before the Russia-Poland match
12/17 Graffiti seen in Warsaw before the Russia-Poland match
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
Russian soccer fans cheer outside the National Stadium in Warsaw.
13/17 Russian soccer fans cheer outside the National Stadium in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
A Russian football fan with "Russia" painted on his head outside the stadium in Warsaw
14/17 A Russian football fan with "Russia" painted on his head outside the stadium in Warsaw
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
Russia's soccer fan cheers during the match against Poland in Warsaw.
15/17 Russia's soccer fan cheers during the match against Poland in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
Russia's Alan Dzagoev (right) reacts as referee Wolfgang Stark of Germany shows him the yellow card during the match against Poland in Warsaw.
16/17 Russia's Alan Dzagoev (right) reacts as referee Wolfgang Stark of Germany shows him the yellow card during the match against Poland in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
Poland's Jakub Blaszczykowski (left) scores a goal during the match against Russia in Warsaw.
17/17 Poland's Jakub Blaszczykowski (left) scores a goal during the match against Russia in Warsaw.
At the Euro 2012 football championships, Russia and Poland played to a 1-1 tie in their Group A game in the Polish capital, Warsaw, in a match tainted by clashes between supporters before play began. Overall, 15 were reported injured while more than 140 people were detained after clashes.
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But in a country where resentment of Russia runs deep, things turned violently quickly.

Reports say the march under police escort had proceeded more or less peacefully until it reached a bridge across the Vistula River. There, fights between pockets of rival fans broke out.

Television footage showed several groups of 10 to 15 men scuffling and police helicopters hovering overhead.

Polish riot police were seen dragging people off and firing smoke into the air, as Polish fans chanted, "Russia whore, Russia whore" and, "Hit the red trash with a hammer, with a sickle."

There were also reports of scuffles at a fan zone in Warsaw.

Plus, during the match, Polish police clashed with mainly Polish supporters, who sparked the unrest by throwing objects at police, including rocks, flares, and bottles.

Despite the crowd trouble, fans from both sides appeared satisfied after the match.

"The atmosphere before the match was not very good because of the clashes, but now all is fine. We are having a good time. The result was good. All we need is to go beyond the group," said one male Polish fan after the game.

And despite violence, many Russian fans complimented their Polish hosts.

"Everyone is very hospitable. The fans, they all supported their own team, but it was all friendly. We all supported our own and we parted in a friendly way," said a female Russian supporter.

With reporting by AFP, dpa, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, and Reuters
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