Police detain over 100 fans at Poland-Russia match

Riot police forces stand guard infront of the supporters tribunes after the Euro 2012 championships football match Poland vs Russia on June 12, 2012 at the National Stadium in Warsaw. AFP PHOTO/JANEK SKARZYNSKI

Warsaw – Police in the Polish capital Warsaw said Tuesday they had detained over 100 fans amid brawls ahead of the Euro 2012 Poland-Russia duel which saw the rivals draw 1-1.

Officers also detained football fans around an official fanzone area in Warsaw during the match, according to an AFP correspondent on the spot.

“The police have mobilized more than 6,000 officers to maintain public order” for the match deemed a high security risk, Warsaw police spokesman Maciej Karczewski told AFP Tuesday.

Reinforcement units from the suburbs would be arriving in the city center for the post-match exit from the national stadium, he added.

Brawls erupted between Polish and Russian football fans before kick off as thousands of Russian supporters marched toward Warsaw’s national stadium. Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the hooligans.

Ten people were injured, including seven Poles, two Russians and one German, but their lives were not in danger, according to a statement.