A Polish court convicted 23 hooligans in fast-track trials for their role in violent clashes when Poland and Russia faced off in an emotionally charged European 2012 game on Tuesday, when policedetained 184 people for taking part in the clashes.
Fast-track have become common practices at other major tournaments like the World Cup. In preparation for Euro 2012, Poland changed partsof its criminal code to make the quick trials possible.
Seven Poles and 16 others were found guilty of assaulting police officers and ”taking part in illegal gatherings.” Streetgatherings 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, butmany 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 Warsawdistrict court. One man was fined $870) for assaulting a policeman.
Police detained 156 Poles, 25 Russians, a Spaniard, a Hungarian and an Algerian for the fighting around the Poland-Russiagame, which ended in a 1-1 tie.