Polish Embarrassment
Russian football fans did in fact submit a motion for permission to hold a march on 12 June, which coincided with the Poland-Russia game and Russian Independence Day. Russian fans declared that no political slogans would be used, however, this was not the case. Prior to the game and the scuffles, the Mayor Warsaw Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, said that if this happened then she will have been lied to (by the Russian fans). The Mayor did not mention any potential consequences that now might arise from the breaking of this promise. Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz also emphasised before the game that the consequences of breaking the law by the participants of the march should be taken into consideration. The Russian fans marched over Poniatowski Bridge towards the National Stadium and it was on the bridge that fighting broke out. There was heightened police security before the game due to the fact that there were several incidents in Poznań and Wrocław where stewards and security guards were attacked by Russian hooligans. Before the game, she highlighted how proud we should be to host Euro 2012, however, it would seem that the incidents before the Poland-Russian game have now brought embarrassment to the city.
tvn24.pl
