The mayor of Warsaw has condemned banners displayed by fans of Cypriot club Omonia Nicosia during a match with Legia Warsaw, while the head of the Polish football association has demanded a decisive reaction from governing body UEFA.
The most antagonistic tifo on display at Thursday evening’s game read: “On January 17, 1945, the Red Army liberated Warsaw”.
The banner referred to the Soviet army, whose arrival in the Polish capital that year heralded decades of authoritarian rule by Moscow over Poland.
Banners with the hammer and sickle, a communist symbol, were also hung inside the stadium.
Rafał Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw and a candidate in next year’s presidential election in Poland, condemned the displays on X.
“At a time when, on Putin's orders, bombs are falling on Ukrainian cities every day and civilians are being murdered, at the Omonia-Legia Warszawa match Cypriot fans provoke with an outrageous slogan about the alleged ‘liberation’ of Warsaw by the Soviets in 1945. This is unacceptable,” he wrote.
“And for this scandalous banner someone has to apologize. An aggressor is not called a liberator,” Trzaskowski added.
“I am outraged by yesterday's scandalous behavior of Omonia Nicosia fans. I appeal to our partners in UEFA to draw severe consequences against the authors of the provocation aimed at our country. I firmly protest against the falsification of history and insulting Poles,” he wrote on X.
Legia themselves also appealed to Europe’s football governing body for action.
“On behalf of the Club community and the people who sacrificed their lives in the fight for the freedom of Warsaw and Poland, immediately after the match we turned to UEFA demanding a decisive reaction,” the club’s X account said.
Banners with the hammer and sickle, a communist symbol, were also hung inside the stadium.
‘Outrageous slogan’
Rafał Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw and a candidate in next year’s presidential election in Poland, condemned the displays on X.
“At a time when, on Putin's orders, bombs are falling on Ukrainian cities every day and civilians are being murdered, at the Omonia-Legia Warszawa match Cypriot fans provoke with an outrageous slogan about the alleged ‘liberation’ of Warsaw by the Soviets in 1945. This is unacceptable,” he wrote.
“And for this scandalous banner someone has to apologize. An aggressor is not called a liberator,” Trzaskowski added.
The president of the Polish football association, Cezary Kulesza, appealed to UEFA to punish the Cypriot club.Oprawa Omonii... #OMOLEG pic.twitter.com/4yPh6DCY5U
— FotoPyK (@FotoPyK) November 28, 2024
“I am outraged by yesterday's scandalous behavior of Omonia Nicosia fans. I appeal to our partners in UEFA to draw severe consequences against the authors of the provocation aimed at our country. I firmly protest against the falsification of history and insulting Poles,” he wrote on X.
Legia themselves also appealed to Europe’s football governing body for action.
“On behalf of the Club community and the people who sacrificed their lives in the fight for the freedom of Warsaw and Poland, immediately after the match we turned to UEFA demanding a decisive reaction,” the club’s X account said.
Political leanings
Legia fans are largely staunchly anti-communist, while Omonia supporters are known for their left-leaning, socialist character, with many stating that they associate themselves with the Progressive Party of Working People
There are a long list of crimes committed in the name of communism in Poland, such as killings, purges, mass arrests, torture, censorship and religious persecution.
On the pitch
On the pitch Legia continued their excellent form in this season’s UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL), with a consummate 0-3 victory in the Cypriot city of Nicosia.
Japanese midfielder Ryoya Morishita gave them a first-half lead. Second-half substitute Mateusz Szczepaniak doubled the Warsaw side’s advantage. Full back Paweł Wszołek secured the win in the 86th minute to ensure Legia maintained their 100% Conference League record.
Not only have Legia won all four of their matches in the UECL, they are now the only side yet to concede a goal in this season’s competition. This leaves them in second place just behind English giants Chelsea.
In third place are Poland’s Jagiellonia Białystok, who have been in impressive form. On Thursday, they drew 3-3 away to Slovenia outfit NK Celje. They have three wins and a draw in the UECL.
Both Polish clubs are now in a strong position to advance beyond the league phase, with two fixtures left to play. The top eight qualify for the last-16 knockout stage.
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