ABSTRACT
Throughout history, Eastern Europe has been an arena of contestation between Poland and Russia in terms of which state holds the most geopolitical influence over the region. Yet the spawned rivalry has not always been fought with bullets and guns, but rather with a round ball and two opposite-end goal posts in the post-Second World War era. The 2012 European Football Championship provided another memorable instalment for both the continental competition and for a showdown between both giants. But the battle did not take place on the pitch this time; the match was overshadowed by the premeditated ambush of Russian fans by Polish football hooligans. Symbols of a strained past and national pride between both sides were clearly visible in the streets and inside the stadium that day. Using studies on the phenomenon of football hooliganism, interest pieces on past Polish–Russian football matches, and media reports, this essay will seek to show how history and international relations permeate sectors of society aside from the political arena, such as competitive football.
