Two Legia Warsaw players held after scuffles with police following Europa Conference game in Alkmaar
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s prime minister and soccer authorities demanded explanations from the Netherlands on Friday as two Legia Warsaw players were detained after scuffles with police following the Europa Conference League match at AZ Alkmaar.
Portuguese player Josue and Serbian Radovan Pankov, who had been taken off the team bus by police, remained in custody while the rest of the squad returned to Poland.
It was not immediately clear what provoked the scuffles after Legia lost 1-0 to Group E rival Alkmaar on Thursday.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who is campaigning ahead of Oct. 15 parliamentary elections, said he had tasked Poland’s diplomats to investigate the matter.
Morawiecki said on X, previously Twitter, that “Polish players and fans must be treated according to law. We do not agree to law violations.”
The secretary general of Poland’s PZPN Football Federation, Lukasz Wachowski, said he is demanding explanations from his Dutch counterparts and UEFA.
All four teams in Group E, the others are Aston Villa and Zrinjski Mostar, have three points after two matches.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer