Brawls erupted between Polish and Russian football fans Tuesday as thousands of Russians marched toward Warsaw's national stadium hours before the countries face off in a key match.
Police fired tear gas and water cannon on unruly fans and arrested several people, according to an AFP correspondent.
He said police officers with dogs and rubber-bullet guns surrounded the stadium, where the highly charged Russia-Poland match will begin at 1845 GMT.
Several dozen Poles hurled firecrackers and taunts in their direction. The Russians responded by throwing bottles, before riot police separated the two groups.
Fresh skirmishes broke out near the stadium between Polish and Russian fans and the police doused the hooligans with water cannon and tear gas.
"We are ready to fight. We will win 3-1," Moscow resident Iouri Kharlamov told AFP.
Unruly Polish fans carry road blockades as they clash with police in Warsaw prior to the Euro 2012 championships football match Poland vs Russia on June 12, 2012 at the National Stadium in Warsaw. Police used water cannon and tear gas on unruly Euro 2012 fans in Warsaw today as Poland geared up to play old foe Russia in a must-win Euro 2012 match. AFP PHOTO / NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA
