Polish police seek to extend away-fan ban

Polish police have reportedly asked the nation’s football association to extend a ban on away fans imposed in the dying days of last season, amid pressure to stamp out hooliganism before Euro 2012.

Poland’s PAP news agency said this week that national police chief Andrzej Matejuk had written to PZPN football association head Grzegorz Lato and league chiefs.

“Experience shows that away-fans’ trips are marked by law-breaking, for example the destruction of property or organised fights,” police spokesman Mariusz Sokolowski said.

“On top of that, club chiefs have informed us that they have problems with away fans and that it is often their behaviour that sparks brawls,” he added.

Poland’s 2011-2012 season kicks off on July 29.

The issue is expected to be on the table at the PZPN’s board meeting tomorrow, but may not be settled there and then.

“There’s no guarantee that any decision will be made to extend the ban on away fans into the new season,” PZPN spokeswoman Agnieszka Olejkowska said, dismissing suggestions otherwise as pure speculation.

Police and the football federation adopted a get-tough ap-proach following fighting which marred the May 3 cup final bet-ween Legia Warsaw and Lech Poznan, both known for their hooligan hardcore.

After a 1-1 draw in the northern city of Bydgoszcz, Legia won 5-4 on penalties and supporters of both sides invaded the pitch.

Besides assaulting police, stewards and reporters, they also smashed up seats.

Politicians, including ardent fan Prime Minister Donald Tusk, blasted the security services and football authorities’ handling of the incident, and warned that hooliganism was a threat to the European Championships, due to be held next year in Poland and Ukraine.

At the police’s behest, the PZPN on May 12 banned away fans from all four remaining fixtures in the top-flight, which wrapped up on May 29. The decision also affected the six final fixtures in the second and third division, where play ended on June 12.

The authorities also imposed empty-stadium orders at Legia, Lech and a handful of other violence-hit clubs.

According to Polish authorities, there are between 3,000 and 5,000 hooligans in this nation of 38 million people.