Hooligans guilty in Euro 2012 cases
Nearly two dozen hooligans have been convicted in fast-track trials for their role in violent clashes when Poland and Russia faced off in an emotionally charged European Championship match earlier this week, court officials said.
The trials in connection with Tuesday’s disturbances are meant to show that Poland is serious about its policy of zero tolerance for violence as it co-hosts Euro 2012 with Ukraine.
Fast-track trials are not unique to Poland. They have become common practices at other major tournaments like the World Cup.
In preparation for Euro 2012, Poland changed parts of its criminal code to make the quick trials possible.
Seven Poles were convicted on Wednesday and sixteen others yesterday, Warsaw district court officials said.
The 23 were found guilty of assaulting police officers and “taking part in illegal gatherings”.
Street gatherings are considered illegal when participants join them with an obvious intent to be violent and when they seek no official permission.
Sentences range from three to 12 months in prison, but many of them are suspended sentences or subject to appeal.
Three men were given prison terms of two, three and five months, according to Wojciech Malek, spokesman for a Warsaw district court.
One man was fined 3,000 zlotys (€688) for assaulting a policeman, Warsaw district court official Marcin Lochowski said.
Sports Minister Joanna Mucha said the punishments should be harsher, but that the government had no influence over the justice system.
