Two players from Legia Warsaw found themselves in legal trouble after Dutch police arrested them following the team’s Europa Conference League match against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday. The incident has raised concerns and triggered an angry reaction in Poland.
The Dutch police detained a 28-year-old player from Serbia and a 33-year-old player from Portugal after the Group E match at the AZ Stadium, which Alkmaar won 1-0. The arrests stemmed from an altercation between the Legia Warsaw players and AZ employees after the match.
In a joint statement, the police, prosecutors, and the city of Alkmaar explained, “After the match, two Legia Warsaw players injured AZ employees who then needed medical care. These players have been detained on abuse charges.”
While Polish media reports have identified the players involved as Radovan Pankov and Josue, they were subsequently released on Friday afternoon and returned to Poland. However, they remain suspects in the case, as reported by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, citing the players’ lawyer.
The situation escalated further as other Legia players and officials allegedly became involved in violent incidents inside the stadium when police attempted to escort Polish fans away from the ground. According to local authorities, these individuals did not cooperate with law enforcement.
The statement issued by local authorities challenged the narrative presented in Polish media, asserting that the players were not victims of police violence and that they themselves had displayed violent behavior.
Before the match, Legia Warsaw fans had reportedly attacked the police, leading to a clash in which one officer in riot gear was knocked unconscious when fans stormed the stadium’s entry gate.
UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, announced that it had appointed inspectors to investigate the incidents surrounding the match.
The incident has garnered significant attention in Poland, prompting Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to order the foreign ministry to take diplomatic action to verify the events. He emphasized the importance of treating Polish players and fans in accordance with the law, emphasizing the need for a fair and thorough investigation.
