RUSSIA-FOOTBALL-FANS-STATEMENT

Moscow, June 14 (Sport-Express/Interfax) – The Russian football fans’ organization (VOB) has issued a statement regarding the fans’ march in Warsaw on June 12, in which it blamed media outlets for escalating tensions in the relations between Russians and Poles.

“The already difficult situation in the relations between the Russian and Polish people was escalated not by the VOB’s actions, but by a number of articles in the national and local media. It is this kind of media outlets, in a pursuit of unnecessary sensations, who put at risk the ordinary Russian fans whom the VOB has been trying to protect from possible problems by agreeing upon, and holding an organized march,” the VOB said on its website.

Such marches are a traditional expression of support for a national team: Dutch and Swedish fans have already held theirs at this Euro 2012 championship, the statement said.

The Russian march was organized in accordance with Polish law and participants did not chant any political slogans, the organization said.

[RU EUROPE EEU EMRG PL SPO DIP]

17:38:07 EET-2