Violence flares in Warsaw at Euro 2012 clash

Violence off the pitch marred the Euro 2012 match between Russia and Poland as football fans fought running battles in Warsaw.

More than 120 people were arrested and a dozen others needed medical treatment.

With around 20,000 Russian fans in the Polish capital for the Group A clash, scuffles had been anticipated by the police.

More than 6,000 officers were deployed in the city centre.

The worst of the violence erupted before the match. The Polish authorities had allowed Russian fans to march to the national stadium in a combined celebration of Russia’s Independence Day.

But against a background of decades of rivalry plus liberal alcohol licencing laws, those carrying national flags and banners were jumped upon.

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