Events in Alkmaar should have no place in civilised world, Legia Warszawa says in statement
The events that took place after the AZ Alkmaar - Legia Warszawa match should have no place in a civilised world, says Polish football club Legia Warszawa in a statement issued on Saturday.
“According to UEFA regulations, it is the host club that is responsible for order and security in the stadium area before, during and after the match”, the Polish side points out.
This is the first time when a visiting team is attacked by the host team staff and the police, the club adds.
The statement accuses the Dutch side of attempting to “mix up the truth with falsehood” and placing the blame on the Polish side.
“The AZ Club's security services and the police failed to ensure the safety of Legia's players and staff and its president. The people who were supposed to take care of security themselves attacked and violated the bodily integrity of many representatives of our club,” Legia claims.
According to the statement, “the unjustified detention took place an hour after the match, when some of our players were not allowed on the coach due to an alleged threat caused by the presence of Legia fans at the club coach. At that point our fans were no longer around the stadium.”
The Mayor of Alkmaar and the Dutch police blatantly discriminated Legia’s employees, players and fans on the basis of their nationality and language, the Polish club claims.
“We believe that such actions have no place in European competition under the aegis of UEFA,” the statement says.
“This is not the first such incident in Dutch stadiums in recent times, including the stadium and the city of Alkmaar,” noticed the Polish club, which stays in contact with other clubs of similar experience, e.g., West Ham United from the UK and Hammarby IF from Sweden.
The Polish footballers were in Alkmaar to play a Europe Conference League match against the local club. Following Legia’s loss (0-1), the atmosphere got tense and unfolded into a fight which culminated in the arrest of two Polish players by the Dutch police. (PAP)
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