Video: Poland And Russia Fans Fight Ahead Of Euro 2012 Match

We had only heard reports of the fighting in Warsaw between Poland and Russia fans, but now there’s video coming out... and, well, it’s not pleasant.

That’s ugly, and people are getting hurt pretty badly out there. It’s also a situation that was completely avoidable. The fact that violence would occur if Russian fans were allowed to march in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Russia Day through Warsaw was eminently predictable, and said march should never have been allowed.

There have been at least three serious injuries and fifteen fans have been arrested over the fighting, which started when a mob of Poland fans attacked the 5,500-strong march with stones, bottles and, reportedly, flares. The police were forced to step in after they were attacked as well, eventually breaking up the fight with water cannons. The march has now been abandoned.

This isn’t about football, obviously, but it’s a real shame that UEFA has allowed Euro 2012 to be used as a platform for this sort of... uh, demonstration.