"The Polish government cannot accept discrimination against our citizens. Those responsible for this must face the consequences. We count on cooperation with the competent authorities of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in this matter," Reuters quoted Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski as saying on October 6.
Police in the Dutch city of Alkmaar arrested two players from Polish football club Legia Warsaw after the team's Europa Conference League match against AZ Alkmaar on October 5, prompting an angry reaction from Poland.
Police outside the Legia Warsaw team bus after the match on October 5.
According to Alkmaar police, they arrested a 28-year-old Serbian man and a 33-year-old Portuguese man after the match, and they remain in custody. The match ended in a 1-0 win for the Dutch team.
"After the match, two Legia Warsaw players injured AZ staff members, requiring medical attention. These players have been detained on charges of abuse," police, prosecutors and the Alkmaar city government said in a joint statement.
According to Polish media, the two players involved were Radovan Pankov and Josue. Police said the players were pulled from their seats and taken to a police station.
Local authorities said other Legia players and officials also became violent as they were held inside the stadium, while police tried to escort Polish fans out.
"The Polish media is creating the image that the players were victims of the police, but that is not true. The players themselves were violent," the government statement said.
Legia Warsaw fans attacked police as they violently stormed the stadium entrance before the match, leaving a police officer in riot gear unconscious.
TVP reported that Dariusz Mioduski, chairman and owner of Legia, was hit in the face by police, while some Legia employees were beaten with batons.
The incident caused a stir at the highest level in Poland. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "I have ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take urgent diplomatic action to verify the events that took place that night. Polish players and fans must be treated according to the law."
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