The Polish Cup final was arguably the biggest game this season for both clubs, Lech Poznan and Legia Warszawa. With them generally struggling in the league having been expected to perform and fight for the title, this tournament was their biggest chance for European football next season. Also that meant a lot for both managers, Maciej Skorża (Legia) and Jose Mari Bakero (Lech) and it was stated before the game that whoever wins Polish Cup will save his job and will be given one more chance to prove his worth next season. Not to mention fans, both to show up in great numbers in Bydgoszcz, where this year final was held, both hating each other very much and both… united in protest after the first whistle.

As first passes were exchanged on the pitch, fans left the stands only leaving behind several banners with anti-government slogans. Then, still standing behind stands, not watching first minutes of the final, they chanted and abused the Polish Football Federation with one of the most famous songs, heard at every game and every ground in Poland.

They came back, eventually, hung their flags, sang their songs, cheered goals, booed off rivals and referees, abused each other. It was a match full of emotions, lasted for 120 minutes followed by penalties, with the last decisive one taken well by Jakub Wawrzyniak who scored to give Legia the Cup with their fans jumping over the fence and waiting for the end just behind advertising hoardings, just behind the goal. The penalty should never have been allowed by the referee under those circumstances. A pitch invasion followed and celebrations broke out as Legia footballers left the pitch literally stripped to their pants. 

The Legia fans went back to the stands, waiting for their heroes to come back for further celebrations and lifting of the Cup, when angry Lech followers did their invasion at the other end. Not to celebrate, oh no. Now throwing seats at police and security, devastating stadium, stealing things. In one of the photographs a woman was kicked by a hooligan, when she was running away from scene. Celebrations had to be delayed for fifteen minutes as police tried to clear the hooligans from the pitch.

Everything that happened was seen by UEFA’s delegate, probably taking notes of how the Polish Football Federation organizes the game.

So why they have protested at the first place? For several weeks now, following shameful scenes that broke out during Lithuania-Poland game in Kaunas by Polish support, we observed anti-hooliganism actions in media also backed by promises of changes in the law made by Donald Tusk, Polish prime minister who is a football fan himself, Lechia Gdańsk supporter for years.

When fans found out what the government is trying to do with hooligans not to allow them to ruin European Championship that will be held in Poland and Ukraine next summer, they prepared a protest. United in the Polish Supporters Group Association they have prepared banners saying: ‘Governments unfulfilled promises – makeshift topic fans’. Those banners were hung in every ground, at every game recently. Clearly seen on TV.

Media got a lot of stick and abuse as well, especially one of leading newspapers for their coverage of the problem. Of course, they have exaggerated many things and certainly some of solutions proposed weren’t the best but saying that problem doesn’t exist or is brought up to bury bad news about delays in EURO preparations is simply absurd. Hooliganism, racism, anti-Semitism is a problem in Polish stadiums and outside of them which must be fought hard and it needs to be stated that those calling themselves fans representatives are most certainly closer to those that should be named hooligans than 95% of those attending games in Poland. They are not the voice of the typical football fan in Poland, disillusioned with the problem, sad that his club, his love of the game is usually pictured with hooligans fights and everything that comes with the problem.

Just before this weekend, the Polish Supporters Group Association prepared and published an announcement of the recent happenings, saying: ‘[Despite mounting problems with projects that should be prepared for EURO] for several weeks media shout that the biggest danger to this tournament are not roads that won’t be ready for time or airports but football fans. We feel anxiety observing actions taken by politicians and government against Polish supporters. Pretending that actions are taken to fight with hooliganism, they are trying to destroy the free and independent environment of fans united in supporters groups. By any means, there is a pressure put on club owners and their representatives but also known well for years method of punishing heavily for small offences.’

But that’s not all. The statement addresses also the actions taken by police, comparing it to what happened under communism rule in Poland few decades ago, what militia did to citizens. They point at media for maintaining the stereotype of Polish football fan that is widely regarded as bald, muscular bandit. They mention the debate among politicians, media and authorities that is upheld without fans representatives, as they probably meant themselves. They ask for a place at the debate table, they ask for fair judgment, fair treatment, showing that they are not as bad as media creates them. They ask for rational arguments in this debate.

So with this Cup final they have given one to them.

Before the final day, news among both sets of fans was exchanged, saying that police, pressured by government, is preparing actions against supporters, a show-off so they need to be at their best behavior not to get caught for something stupid and provoke yet another anti-fans campaign in the media.

But with the kind of behaviour presented after the last whistle by both sets of fans… sorry, hooligans, shows that scale of the problem is maybe even bigger, as bandits can ruin cup final, even when there is pressure and expectations on them to behave and show the best of them. Europe noticed the best of them when Lech supporters were in loud voice at every game their club played in Europa League making Manchester City fans ‘Do the Poznan’ now everytime they score. Legia supporters are well known as well, mainly for their voice but also bad behavior that once cost their club hundreds of euros when they demolished a stadium in Vilnius.

Yes, media and government may be playing with stereotypes and some of the solutions shouldn’t even be considered and exaggerate things, not showing the good side of Polish fans that exist, believe me, but now they have even more arguments, while voice of those naming themselves supporters representatives will not be heard, will not be taken seriously.

And rightly so. They, well connected and surely knowing those responsible for hooliganism acts in and outside Polish grounds, cannot be taken seriously, cannot be a partner in much needed debate. They have lost their voice and it is not that media or government didn’t want to listen to their arguments. Their people let them down - behaving like animals, devastating stadium in Bydgoszcz, ruining cup final. People that they were somehow trying to include as fans, protect from law changes that will make security tighter and fines higher.

Football fans will survive, will attend games, will stand by their clubs. Hopefully, without idiots standing next to them, pretending they are there for the beautiful game, calling themselves supporters when they are clearly not. Things will change and image of Polish supporters will change. Not bald, muscular idiot with scarf covering his mouth and his hood on, throwing seats at police, devastating new stadiums. Not anymore.