Four charged after NIreland-Poland match violence

Four men were charged here on Sunday following violent clashes between rival sets of football fans that left 11 police officers injured.

The quartet, aged 30, 28, 26 and 22, were among nine people arrested during the disturbances that took place before and after Northern Ireland’s 3-2 win over Poland in Saturday’s 2010 World Cup qualifier here at Windsor Park.

All four men were charged with disorderly behaviour linked to trouble at a city centre pub on Bedford Street before the match. The 26-year-old was also charged with possession of a firework without a licence.

All are due in court on Monday. Police said most of the nine arrested were Polish. The five not charged were released on Sunday.

The unrest came at a difficult time in Northern Ireland, with authorities trying to keep a lid on civil disturbances following the murders of a police officer and two British soldiers earlier this month. Observers fear that the attacks that threaten to drag the province back into sectarian strife.

Saturday’s incident left police voicing concerns about the prospect of reprisal attacks against Northern Ireland’s resident Polish community.

Following the Good Friday peace accords of 1998, Northern Ireland has attracted east European migrants. Thousands of Poles live and work in the province, forming a significant minority.

However, police said they were not thought to be behind the violence.

“We believe there was a hardcore of Polish nationals who came to the game without tickets but with a very clear intent to cause trouble and disruption to genuine supporters and local residents,” said police superintendent Chris Noble.

“We believe these troublemakers are not local,” he added.

“Unfortunately their actions may well have put the safety of law-abiding and local Polish residents in jeopardy.”

During the match, a linesman was struck on the head by a missile thrown from the home section of the crowd, which held up play for several minutes.

The Irish Football Association could face action from world governing body FIFA over the incident.

Several Poland supporters tried to climb a perimeter fence but police moved in to stop them.

Northern Ireland’s win left them top of the Europe zone qualifying group three for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.