UKRAINE – The football administrations of Russia and Poland have been forced to apologise to extremist groups over an unfortunate breakout of football during mass street brawls this week.
Violent clashes between rival supporters were tragically halted when the respective football teams charged onto the field of play and engaged in an organised sporting contest.
Officials from both sides have already condemned the “scheduled 90 minutes of sport” that marred scenes of disorganised violence.
Football to a knife fight
It’s understood over 6,000 police were on duty during the street protest but were helpless to act as 22 players and respective coaching staffs played to a score draw.
One Russian fan said he could not believe the scenes he was witnessing as his team held on for a 1 – 1 draw with Poland without a single punch being thrown.
“No one wanted to see this,” Alexei Kalashnik said after being forced to sit comfortably with his fellow supporters. “I come with friends to throw bricks at dirty Polish and then football ruins this all.”
UEFA were unavailable for comment, but the official Russian football fan organization said in a statement: “We condemn the isolated outbreak of football that occurred in the middle of the Poland-Russia death match, when some groups of known footballers ruined the ritual of hurling dangerous projectiles at one another.”
It went on: “This brand of respectful competition is not what we come to a football match for.”
Many supporters have criticised European football’s governing body for failing to keep control long enough to prevent the outbreak of competitive sport during an emotionally charged conflict between a similar group of people over something that happened a long time ago.
There was also further criticism for the footballing body for missing the warning signs – including player warm up and pre game analysis – as the match threatened to take place in the middle of a street fight.
Totally uncalled for
Kalashnik said he could not understand why anyone would want to come to a football match to sit respectfully to non violently support their country and called on supporter groups to provide better protection against supporters hell-bent on mindless violence.
In response, authorities from both countries have pledged to work with UEFA in future to make sure football does not come between fans looking to smash each other’s heads in.
“Our philosophy is to create a hostile environment fueled by ultra-nationalistic and dogmatic pre conceptions.”
“Football should not be allowed to ruin this.”
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