Polish and Russian fans clash at Euro 2012, police arrest 183

Warsaw - Violence descended on the streets of Warsaw on Tuesday as more than 5,000 Russians marched before the Euro 2012 clash between the two countries.

The ill-timing of the game was put into question on an emotive day. The Russians fans were marking the national day which celebrates the ending of the old Soviet Union in 1990. June 12 is a national holiday in Russia. However, the march coupled with the unfurling of a giant 60-foot banner bearing the words "This Is Russia" inside the Warsaw National Stadium provoked Polish fans and a number of scuffles broke out before the game. Most of the trouble was centred around the fan zone area of Plac Defilad Square. Poland's sports minister, Joanna Mucha, has expressed her "shame" at locals who attempted to fight rival Russian supporters before Tuesday night's match, reports the Telegraph. Police have said more arrests will take place on Wednesday after they study video footage of some of the clashes. There were disturbances taking place on the capital's Poniatowski Bridge as some Russian marchers waved Soviet flags which intimidated the Polish supporters. During the Second World War the Soviets occupied Poland. Co-hosts Poland drew 1-1 in the game itself. Most of the hooligans arrested were either Polish or Russians. There were also 24 people reported with injuries, though none are said to be serious. The violence flared despite a tightly-controlled security operation in Warsaw, where authorities had been training anti-riot operations even before the tournament began. Below is video reportedly showing Russian fans attacking supporters of the Polish team, as the video description claims: